Dec 2019 – Feb 2020 Fav

I forgot to actually post the individual blogs so I’m combining three months worth! Going forward, I will include recipes I love if I have one for the month. I will try not to repeat anything but if I like it then it’ll more than likely show up again.

1. the 3 pillow covers and 3 pictures from Amazon
2. hairstyle from Keke J. on YouTube
3. Espresso Metro
4. Affordable passion twists from Amazon (referred by Keke J. on YouTube)

Pillowcases from YugTex and Alpha Home

Soft
Affordable
Washing machine friendly
- no fading as of 4 washes
Multiple options
Purchased on Amazon

Canvas Wall Art – Green Leaf

Might have mentioned before
Decent size
Good color/ print
Purchased on Amazon

Hairstyle

Idea from Keke J. on YouTube
- Keke J. Method
Style takes a long time but also lasts a while (2 weeks for me)
Great as prep for passion twists as suggested by Keke J.
Helped me retain moisture while in protective style
No need to add hair as I liked the style without it

Espresso Metro

Great place to read
Good chicken tamales
might have to pay for parking Monday thru Saturday

Dansama Passion Twist Hair 18″ (7pks) T/BUG

Suggested by Keke J. on YouTube
- Video name “SAVE YOUR COINS! Affordable Passion Twists W/ Keke J. Method”
Current price is $36.80 but when I bought it was $29.90; point is this is very affordable especially if you’re experimenting like I was
Multiple colors
- I chose T/BUG which was very different for me and I liked it; next time I’ll buy T30 to compare and see which color I like better
Very soft, no smell and easy to separate
- only 1 piece gave me trouble but I was tired so it was probably my fault
Purchased on Amazon

November 2019 Favs

1. Radius Organic Mint Aloe Neem Toothpaste

2. UBeesize 7.9″ Ring Light w/ Tripod Stand

3. Dippy Cow Custom Nails: Geometry Full Set in Short/Regular

I received this for free from Social Nature however I plan to buy it when I finish this tube. The texture takes some getting used to as it is not the same as traditional toothpaste. The mint is subtle so if you prefer an overpowering mint taste you won’t get it. Be aware that the closer you get to the end of the tube the easier it is to waste it due to falling off of the toothbrush from squeezing hard to get it out.
Purchased from Amazon. I’m slowly getting into creating better pictures and videos for my blog, YouTube channel and family but I didn’t want to spend a ton on equipment. This simple lighting and stand set were/ are perfect. The light has multiple settings and the stand can be used with a camera or your phone.
I’ve posted about Dippy Cow Nails before but each time I buy more I can’t help sharing! Even as I write this I’m waiting for more because I wanted to place one big order before her baby arrives ❤ She’s great at what she does and has amazing customer service. I would like to reiterate what she has posted which is orders take a while as she is independent and works alone. She is based in the UK so all international orders will take longer and she recommends tracking. For more details, please visit her website: http://www.dippycownails.com
MoValues Authentic Jade Roller and Gua Sha Set purchased from Amazon. This is a video only as I forgot to take a picture… But here is a little blurb in case you don’t want to watch the video. I bought this in November 2019 and I’m still loving it💛 I keep it in the storage bag in my refrigerator. After cleansing my face, I use the roller and if time permits the gua sha. The roller works great to de-puff my face, ease tension headaches and is very relaxing. The gua sha seems to relieve pressure in my sinuses. This isn’t medical advice but this is how it worked for me. Here’s the link in case you do want to watch my 2min unboxing video! https://youtu.be/FORYKgo4lE8

October 2019 Favs

MyChelle SPF
- I discovered this brand thanks to a free sample from Social Nature. I bought the full size from Sprouts. It is reef safe, used for whole body and can be used by everyone 6+ months
Reusable Starbucks cold cup
- Purchased from Starbucks. I mostly use it for water. I love that it fits in the cup holder in my car and the straw can be used for multiple cups not just the one it was made for
Amazon Items
- Women’s Padded Underwire Full Swing Support Maternity Nursing Bra
  - Gives great support, easy to use with one hand, affordable
- Eillet 5-Pack High Waist Tummy Control Panties
  - Holds in mommy pouch!!
Target (the entire store!)
- Relaxing place to shop where I can buy coffee and snacks to make the trip that much more fun
The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferris
- Biggest take away is SELF CONTROL!! I love it because it works as long as your self control stays strong
- Diet details will be on my YouTube channel

Professional Hairdresser Experience

I keep forgetting to put this post up.

A while ago my dad (step-dad), treated my mom, sister and I to a day of pampering. It came out of nowhere! No special occasion or event; he simply surprised us. My dad’s literal words were “Do you have to work Saturday?” I replied and then it was set. We all met at the salon and got the works (mani/pedi/hair).

It had been a long while since I’d been to a professional stylist as I do my own hair. However my dad was so sweet as to do this I viewed her Instagram page and went to the appointment knowing exactly what I wanted. I wanted the one style I was usually too lazy to do myself: flat iron!!

I’m no fanatic but I do treat my hair with special care before applying heat so I was extremely excited and nervous about my experience. I knew I couldn’t let a new person cut/ trim my hair plus I’d already done it so I declined that part. She started off by explaining the process, telling me about the products and saying something I’d never heard before. She told me I had a lot of hair but it was fine. I was shocked. I was always told how thick my hair was so this was news to me. However when I started thinking about everything I knew it made total sense. Curly it looked like it went on forever but straight or wet most of it seemed to disappear and that was why. Other than that shocking info the rest of the experience was as if I did it myself with regards to the care and attention given.

The results as well as the first wash after the service are above. I waited because I wanted to make sure there was no heat damage then I forgot… All in all it was great experience and I would (will) do it again!!

PS – The only reason I didn’t include her contact info is because I didn’t ask. If you’re curious then message me on Instagram and I”ll share

Movie Date

Thursday I talk to my mom who tells me they want the mini for the weekend. We happily agree and make arrangements. We knew we were going to see Black Panther but decided the mini was too young to attend based on what others were saying so this was the perfect opportunity to see it.

Friday we buy our tickets in advance in order to get decent seats; YAY seat selector!

Saturday is finally here. It’s cheat, movie and kid-free day!! Yes I only count Saturday as kid-free because we dropped him off Friday and would be picking him up Sunday. I’m thinking what could go wrong?! We already bought our tickets, my hair was pre-poo’ed and we had snacks ready to eat. All was going as planned. While hubby relaxed and snacked I started on my hair. This is when it all went down hill. I was getting ready to dry my hair when the plug to my dryer fell in water (no worries I’m fine). I started to panic because this is the only dryer that is both fast and straightens. I could either find an alternate or panic. Well I multi-tasked and did both.

I panicked, decided my hair couldn’t be fought and came up with a plan B. Plan B was detangling, moisturizing, braiding in 4 big braids and covering it with a knit hat. I was only a quarter of the way done when I saw the time and knew I had to go so we weren’t late. I put all the items above in my backpack purse, picked out my knit hat and ran out the door. I had to finish my hair and put on makeup while in the car and before anyone else could see me. First I set up all the products then realized it was horribly unsafe to put all the products out as one could roll under the brake and prevent us from being able to stop. After re-positioning everything I got to work. Right as I was parting my hair, I look up to see a homeless man staring directly at me either wondering what I’m doing or thinking I’m insane. Light is green and we’re off. I’m now in a showdown with my edges and finally success! I win 🙂 As we enter the parking garage, I’m freaking out because my brows already struggle under normal conditions and I could only imagine what horror the light would reveal once I entered the theater. Turns out I did a decent job but I put on my sunglasses just in case.

Finally we sit down to enjoy the movie; EARLY might I add. The movie was both visually appealing and spoke to me in a way I didn’t expect. Even hubby thought the story line was one of Marvel’s best. I’m torn whether or not to do a full on movie review as I am sure there are tons out there but I might do a His/Her review anyways. All in all this was a very amusing yet emotional movie date.

Wig-ing Out pt 2

I wasn’t sure what to call this but making it a part 2 seems fitting. In the original “Wig-ing Out” post, I mentioned purchasing the same wig in a different color and I did😁

I made a brief video overview (link below) but I included pictures of the wig packaging because I accidentally deleted my original video. There are also pictures of the Red Velvet color so you can see the slight differences.

BS206 1B

1st Wig which made me want to repurchase

Note: Red seems softer than black. Black had short pieces at the top which resembled hair that was broken off; best way I can think of to describe it.

I hope this helps anyone interested in this wig!

Watch my quick wig review on YouTube at Journey to Mommy; link below.

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of regular income.

New Do & the Zoo

I’ve been searching for a protective style I wouldn’t get bored with and braids seemed to be the best option. I wanted to add fake hair but my mom convinced me not to so if I took it down quickly I wouldn’t be wasting money. Braiding took a while but it was well worth the time and effort. I was able to wet it as much as I liked and getting ready for the day was a breeze since I no longer had to worry about my hair.

This leads me to the zoo! My other parents aka my in-laws planned on taking us to the zoo and I didn’t want to be bothered with my hair so the braids once again proved to be very useful. I was able to wake up on zoo day with my hair already done so I was focused on things like making sure my phone and camera was charged so I could turn into the paparazzi. I took all the pictures and videos I could while still enjoying the moment. I even stopped to read up on each animal and their stories were fascinating. Turns out it wasn’t a regular zoo. This was more like a sanctuary than a zoo because all of the animals were rescued. We found out some enclosures were empty because those animals were rehabilitated and released! This just added to my enjoyment.

All in all braiding my hair was a great idea for numerous reasons* and seeing my son’s face when he finally saw real monkeys was priceless.

*I have allergies and windy days aren’t my friend especially if my hair is down because pollen and whatever else is floating in the air tends to get trapped in it.

Wig-ing Out

I bought a wig on Amazon!!

Brown Sugar Human Blended Lace Front Wig – BS206 (#SR2/REDVELVET) by ISIS HAIR

I’ve been wanting to do something different with my hair for a while now but I was a wishy washy mess when it came to making a decision. Finally what started as a trim turned into a cut which morphed into looking for a wig on Amazon. I spoke with my husband and this was the best routine to avoid any further scissor happy moments.

I looked up red wigs then human hair red wigs then affordable wigs and this pooped up some where during my search. I liked what I saw but was very uncertain about the color as I am of a darker shade and don’t like anything that makes me stand out too much. But after consulting with my husband I decided to take the plunge plus I knew my sister would look great with this color so it wouldn’t be a complete waste of money.

Below are pictures of the wig on me, packaging and instructions. I am by no means a wig expert but I used to buy a lot of them and often so I wanted to review this one based on the knowledge I’ve gained from previous experience.

color looks okay on my skin tone but does take a confident person to wear as it is very bright
color is beautiful
lace seems short and somewhat stiff but very user friendly
- I’m not sure how wide the lace part is on other wigs (this is my first lace front) but for my large head it seemed short
- should mention I didn’t braid it down properly
full with minimal shedding

standard wig packaging
no smell

loved the instructions for installing the unit and washing
comes with double-sided tape

Overall I liked the wig but gave to my sister because I wasn’t comfortable with the color. I plan on buying the same wig in a different color and I will definitely buy more wigs from this brand/ seller.

While this post isn’t sponsored by anyone, I was able to buy it with gift cards I accumulated through taking surveys. I still worked for the gift cards but it wasn’t part of actual regular income more like things I do while my son is napping on me. I have also purchased other things this way. I will try to note when I do but if I forget you can always ask if you’re curious 🙂

Hair Update 7/2017

My edges have returned and hair that has broken off is also growing back despite the horrible neglect it has suffered dating all the way back to the end of my first trimester. I was so excited to see my full edges that I took pictures at different stages of the process. EDITED: After I added the pictures I realized there aren’t any clear images of my edges #fail

My wash day is typical of most found on any curly-haired blog/ YouTube channel with the exception of adding heat so I can trim my own ends. I’ll admit I’m not super into my hair like I was before having a child so I’m sure if you look close enough you’ll see tons of SSK (single strand knots), split ends and general unevenness but hey it is what it is and I maintain my hair in a way that is easiest for me. Without further delay my edges (and the rest of my hair)!

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Photos above are of my hair right after I washed it. It was still soaking wet but I was feeling it way too much to let it dry 🙂 However I did let it air dry (took 1-2 days) in big twists to minimize the amount of heat I used.

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1- After taking down twist

2 – Flat iron

3 – Trimmed

My bathroom is really small but I was stuck in there since I didn’t want to wake my son up. It was my husband’s awesome idea to put the giant fan in the bathroom with me so I wouldn’t ruin all my hard work with sweat. Needless to say whenever I flat iron it again I will be using the fan.

April's Universe

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