Giovanni

Every store I visit, I notice that the Giovanni haircare line is on sale. I don't feel wowed by their shampoo's and conditioners because of all the protein. However, there stylers look pretty interesting and I love their body care. I ran across there Exfoliating Body Bar in Hot Chocolate and it was love at first whiff. I cannot wait to do a full review on this body bar So stay tuned....

Wash n' Go

Ladies, It's been a minute (I know I Know). Shame on me, right?
Well I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. My dear mother was gracious enough to let me post pictures of her wonderful wash and go today.
Nice, huh??

Spa Experience At Home

It's a real treat to go to the spa. But sometimes its not conventional or financially smart to spend $300 at the spa, when you could be using that money for a bill or something that's more important. So here are my simple ways to bring the spa experience home on a budget.
First its important to understand that it's not just about the spa treatment but the ambiance and the visual appeal. So in order to recreate the look of a spa you may want to redecorate your bathroom with a few simple things:

White Towels: Clean, fluffy,white towels are ideal for a spa looking bathroom at home. However, if your like me and hate the sterile hospital look, then you can also throw in some neutrals.. like chocolate browns and beige towels.
Check out walmart for various towels options.


Secondly your going to need at least one semi-long neutral bath rug. I personally would recommend a shag rug but any soft rug will do. Bed bath And Beyond has some great options! Sometimes the longer rugs are a little to pricey so feel free to buy a couple cheaper ones and just spread them apart in your bathroom.


It also muy importante to declutter your bathroom counter, tub, and shower stall. I know that's really hard for us product junkies. But its best to use hidden storage so that visually your bathrooms looks more like a spa and less like a beauty supply store lol. The only things you want on the counters are:

A bathroom Ensemble and a cotton ball holder.
(feel free to keep the tooth brush holder hidden)

Some Zen looking candles that look clean and earthy.

As well as some relaxing and tranquil music. For me, that means artist like Amel Larrieux and anything Jazzy.





So now that we have the spa look, we need the spa treatments.
If your spa treatment consist of a nice hot bath. Then you may want to skip the bubbles and just opt for bath soaks or salts. It's important to understand that spas tend to shy away from products that aren't all natural so you want too look for products that do not contain parabens, sulfates, and fillers
For a shower sauna experience its nice to have all the windows closed, so you can have a steamy bathroom. In terms of products you want to look for creamy shower gels and/or body polish.
I personally would recommend Giovanni's Hot Chocolate Body Polish and Alba Botanica Sugar Cane Scrub (yum).





Applying a facial Mask is a step I never skip. Online you can find plenty of homemade recipes but if your lazy like me and would rather buy one, you want to look for a deep penetrating mask or a pore refining mask. So you can have a fresh, glowing face afterwards. Like Burts Bees Pore Refining Mask, and Alba Botanica Deep Sea Facial Mask.
Betonite Clay is my favorite though (not for sensitive skin).


Let me also add that for all my naturals this is a fine time to deep condition your hair. With all the heat and time spent in the bathroom you should put in your deep conditioner, a plastic cap and a twistie turbie.

Spa Accessories are nice to have as well. If you have a bath tub you may want a bath caddy. Also, Ecotools has a great eco-friendly bath accessories that I really love.

Once your done rinsing off and ready to lounge in the comfort of your bed, throw on a nice fluffy robe and you'll feel like a million bucks!














*Disclaimer: I'm in no way affiliated with the companies listed above. All the companies linked above are legit. The candle company above is my moms!

Holiday Nail Color

First let me say how out of my limit this nail color is for me. I always polish my fingernails in pinkish tones. In the winter I kinda sway towards the warmer pinks. But this holiday color by China Glaze called Joy is so pretty and completely different for me. My nail technician always gets on me about my love for pink all year long and wants me to try new things. So she convinced me to give this a try. 2 weeks max then off it goes.


My lighting sucks but the polish is true to color. So though the pic makes the polish look burgundy it really isn't. It truly is a holiday purple.

Watch what you say...

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms19:14

Its so easy to gossip. I have to constantly remind myself to not gossip among family, co-workers, and friends. And as a Christian I need to make sure I always represent myself like a child of God. That goes for cursing, speaking of hatefulness, jealousy or malice.

Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to restrain from gossiping. Help me to not indulge in any conversion that isn't pleasing to you. Let the things that come out of my mouth be pure and wholesome. Amen

Deep Condition, Detangle, & Co-Wash

The title of this post tells it all. I love this conditioner for my hair so much! I only rinse out 75% of the conditioner, then squeeze out any excess water and proceed to style/dry my hair. This big 16oz jar is no more than $3 at Sallys. I can't vouch for the other Lustrasilk conditioners but this one has great slip and does not contain mineral oil. So check it out.

Emerald Smokes

Maybelline Stylish Smokes Eyeshadow Quad, Emerald Smokes

Price: Approx $5.99
Where: Any drugstore, Target, Walmart
Ingredients: Lots of garbage

They Say:
Four coordinated eye shadows provide fade-proof color that remains true.

• Advanced formula glides on effortlessly with superior smoothness
• Velvet-tip applicator blends without tugging or pulling
• All-day crease-resistant wear
• Also available in singles, duos and trios

I say: Love it! Great color payoff, smooth, no fallout, highly pigmented, easy blending. Nothing but positive things to say about it. The only thing I must mention is the fact that I did not follow the directions to a T . I used the highlight color for my inner lid and tear duct as well as a brow highlighter.
Overall : 5
Pictures don't even do this look justice


Toodles

Hear Me Lord

Psalms 88:1-2
Oh Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee:incline thine ear unto my cry

Sometimes we feel the need to remind God of our afflictions by pointing out "Hey, Lord...you see my pain, how miserable I've been, my suffering. Take notice and do something about it, I need you" But God already knows what you're thinking before you think it. What you'll say before you say it. He just wants YOU to realize that you need to lean on him and wait. Waiting is hard for us to do but he will never just ignore us or put whatever were going through to the back burner..everything that is meant to be will be, in his time if it be in his will.

Prayer: Lord, You see what it is I'm going through, you know my heart, hear my cry and comfort me. Amen.

Maybelline's Emerald Smokes

Model not wearing Emerald Smokes in this pic.




So I was drifting down the makeup isle in Walmart, and had to back track when I saw this advertisement of Jessica White for Maybelline. Yes, I got sucked in and bought the pallette she was supposedly wearing. So stay tuned because I'll be trying it out and posting my final results...








Emerald Smokes

Bzzzz Burts Bees

Burts Bees Natural Acne Solution
Price: $9.99-$17.99
Size: Too Small!
They Say: Natural Acne Solutions™ products are clinically proven to help reduce and prevent acne for naturally clear, smooth and healthy-looking skin. The 4-step product regimen works so well that even a dermatologist’s daughter, Annalisa, chooses Natural Acne Solutions™ products for her skin. Find out more, then skip the synthetics and get beautiful, clear skin, naturally!
I Say: I've purchased everything except the Daily Moisturizing Lotion. I don't have the guts to buy a $17 face lotion right now. Overall I really like everything else. If I can try all the garbage out there on the market why not try something that's potentially better?
The Targeted Spot Treatments stinks (because of the willow bark) and the Pore Refining Scrub is very creamy and leaves your skin feeling soft. It does leave a light film on the skin but I use Witch Hazel as a toner so that solves that problem. The bottles are a little to small. But its really quality vs. quantity. A little goes a long way.
Overall: 4


If you love Burts Bees like I do, run to Target!
During the Holidays they offer gift sets which contain there full sized products. Unlike some companies, they don't cheat you but rather treat you because you get to stock up and save or give it as a 'gift' lol for christmas for only $19.99. Yeah baby!!

Waiting To Do My Hair

So I ran out of my Afroveda and I placed my order on November 8th. Oh how I hate to wait for my products to come in the mail. Its pretty safe to say that my products may not be here until next week. So what I'll probably end up doing is using my Kinky-Curlys' Spiral Spritz for a few days to just to set my twists along with the few scoops of Shea Amla that I have left. The wait to do my hair how I want it to look, reminds me of when I had a relaxer and how I had to wing it in between my touch ups. I had to be careful not to irritate my scalp, not to scratch and only do low manipulation styles. This wait however is full proof. The only disaster that can occur is if she sends me the wrong products (heaven forbid).

So my husband thinks I'm a real cornball because I am infatuated with Bath & Body Works new Signature Fragrance Collection called Twilight Woods. He feels because I'm a big fan of the new movie Twilight, that I'm jumping on board with the new scent. That sounds preposterous {laughs}. That may have very well have been the companies intention but I stumbled across this great find accidently. But boy, let me tell you ladies...it was love at first whiff.

Bath & Body Works: Twilight Woods

Size: Regular 8oz: $10.50-$29.50 ; Candle $5
They Say: Indulge your senses with our exclusive Twilight Woods, a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods. Fragrance Top Notes: Juicy Berry, Sparkling Mandarin, hint of Coconut Fragrance
Mid Notes: Creamy Frangipani, Soft Mimosa, Wet Honeysuckle, Wild Freesia, Apricot Nectar Fragrance Base Notes: Oud Wood, Skin Musk Captive, Vanilla Milk, Warm Wood
Indulge your senses with our exclusive Twilight Woods, a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted wood.

I Say: I'm really enjoying this fragrance. I was really trying to stay clear of un-natural body care but as you ladies can tell, I'm failing.

Overall: I love this fragrance so much, I'll probably buy the candle. My husband will really think I flew off the deep end then. I'd probably loose my mind if he came home with a Versace Blue Jeans Candle. I'd probably blow that sucker out first chance I got.

Smiles,
Cammyb

God Is Love

The Lord is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?-Psalms 27:1 The world can be a scary place. It's so easy to be afraid and fearful. But with God, we can lay all of our burdens unto him and let him handle it. The world isn't a match for God, he wins hands down. Stand behind him and let him take control of all your tough situations.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.-Psalms 27:14
It can be hard for us to just sit around and wait when we're anxious, worried, or excited about something. But God knows the desires of our heart. Take the waiting period and use it as a time to build up faith and surrender your all to him; every joy and every cry. For he will take that time to build you up and give you the strength of 10,000 men. Then one day you'll look around and the wait would of been over.

Prayer: Father God, give me the strength to wait on you. Guide my life and open doors that need to be opened and make a way where there seems to be no way. Give me peace that surpasses all understanding, and lead me. In Jesus name I pray..Amen.

-Cammyb

Product Review

Afroveda's Purr Whipped Jelly

Price: $9 -$24
Size: 8oz-32oz
Ingredients: All Natural!
They Say: ".....It provides SUPERB curl definition and frizz protection, all while providing moisture and sheen. Enriched with natural oils, exotic butters and nourishing extracts and botanicals. This gel will elongate your curls, naturally. Also works great to smooth edges, slick hair and to hold twist and locs in place.
I say: I am highly impressed. This is my favorite styler for my twist-outs. It gives my hair a medium hold and makes my
twist-outs look wonderful! I also use the Jelly to slick back my
hair. No frizzy edges with this product.
Overall: 4.0
Because its all natural and handmade my batch had little hard
particles in it. Hopefully, my next order will have a smoother
consistency.

AfroVeda Update

So as stated in one of my previous post I purchased the Curly Custard accidentally and decided to try it on my sons hair on a trial basis. Well, I came to the conclusion that it didn't do much for his hair. Thankfully I was able to swap my Curly Custard for the Shea Amla. Here's my review:

Shea Amla Whipped Butter
Price:$9
Size:80z
Score: 5
Overall: Packs a one-two moisture punch! Whipped to perfection
and easy to distribute from hands to hair. However be forewarned that this butter cream smells masculine.
It smells like Frankincense and Mrryh to be exact.

Drug Store Reviews

Downy Simple Pleasures in Spice Blossom Dare (liquid form)
Ironically this smell compliments Degree's Fine Fragrance Collection in Sexy Intrigue.
Price: $5
Where: Walmart, Supermarket ,etc
Score: 4.5
Overall: This is truly a wash and wear fragranced fabric softener. If you choose not to wear perfume for the day or you forget, with this stuff you'll be smelling good all day! Its very potent so a little bit goes a long way. It will even have your house smelling Spicy as your doing Laundry.
Warning: Men may not like their clothes smelling like perfume lol.


Degree Deodorant in Sexy Intrigue
Price: Approx $5
Where: Drugstores
Score: 5
Overall: Smells really scentual and sexy. Reminds me of some Victoria Secret's scent and I must say its a great antiperspirant.







Cannot forget the matching Body Mist!
Price: Approx $5
Size: 30z
Score: 4
Overall: Smells great! It compliments the deodorant wonderfully. However the smell does fade after about 4 hours.






Ladies If you combine all three of these items you'll be smelling lovely all day long.

Smiles,
Cammyb

Ladies,


I'm rocking an awesome twist-out today. I'm so happy with the outcome. Hopefully, I can maintain it for at least 3 days.




Review



Vaseline Aloe Fresh Body Gel
Price: $5 at Walmart
Size: 6.8 ounces
They Say: Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Body Gel glides onto skin for a sheer burst of hydration. The light aloe Vera formula conditions while instantly refreshing skin. For daily use all year round - and contains no alcohol. Skin naturally regulates the body's temperature with its own cooling system. But perspiration and heat leave skin feeling hot and sticky, while the environment pulls moisture from skin, leaving skin dry.
I say: It feels like I rubbed Ecostyler all over my body. At first my skin felt sticky, then after a few seconds dry and ashy looking. I felt dirty and it left a residue on my skin. My husband said, "Uhh, babe...I don't like it".
Overall: Its a big no for me
Score: 0...it a no go.







I haven't had tips or acrylic on my nails for over 2 years. I take really good care of my natural nails and take pride in their appearance. Recently, I've had a problem with my nails peeling so I decided to use NailTek (which hasn't really helped). The last nail technician I went to ripped apart my cuticles and they've been dry and raggedy looking ever since. Since moving to Florida I really haven't found a nail technician that's impressed me. The place I currently go to is the best thus far but they're always booked! Anyway, my grandmother treated me to getting my nails done with her this past Tuesday at Walmart. I made it clear I didn't want a male technician yet they gave me one anyway. He kept slapping my hand down to the side once he was done with it and I was really uncomfortable. I asked him before I sat in the chair to be 'gentle'. He nodded in agreement. I reluctantly asked for tips. He did an absolutely horrible job.
1. The Acrylic is too thick
2. The ends of the nails aren't smooth and snag on my clothes
3. He did a sloppy job on the polish (the first polish was streaky, I pointed it out to him and he reluctantly removed it and I chose another)
4. He never touched my cuticles (look closely and you'll notice the raggedy cuticles)
5. He never moisturized or massaged my hands (notice the ashy hands)
6. He was rude (I wanted to kick him under the table)
What made it worse was he was the manager! Had I been by myself, I would have given him a piece of my mind. However, I was with my dear grandma and didn't want to embarrass her and seem unappreciative. But I must get my nails fixed by MY nail technician asap. Times like these make me lose my Christianity.

Sigh,
Cammyb

Twists

I really dig two-stranded twist. Usually they're done on dry hair using a butter/cream of sorts. Well this time my dear mother, ( kudos to her) did my hair relatively fast, on short notice. I had her use Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera gel on top of Donna Marie's Coco Hemp Butter Cream. The results are shiny and firm twist. I feel a fab-twist-out coming on...