Monday, December 17, 2012

A word to the Freshmen along the journey…


 
Along the journey you will see a minute version of independence
No curfew to follow or rules to live by
You will laugh many laughs and some nights cry
You’ll either straighten up and learn self discipline
Or give into fear, inflicting shame within
There will be professors, peers and even some friends and loved ones who will doubt you,
But with faith the size of a mustard seed YOU KNOW, what you CAN DO!
    You can say to a mountain “MOVE!” and it will be so
    Many will throw the towel in on you, but you DON’T LET GO!
    Know who you are and whose you are, and you WILL DO ALL things!
    And Glory to the Father you will ultimately bring!
    Dare to dream and be different!
    When lots go left, don’t fear to go right
    Because the road less traveled is Holy in His sight!
    Hold dear to you those who are real, and pray for those who aren’t.
    Despise vindictiveness and cling to the freedom of forgiveness
    Knowing your steps are ordered and God’s got yo mess!
    Shine bright like a Diamond, trusting that Christ is your present help...

    My prayer is that you find YOU…without losing yourself!

    ~Diamond ♥



Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day!!

What's your day looking like? ... Big plans for that special someone? or simply keepin' it chic in your gift of singleness?

Either way remember that:  

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

So let's be of service because what we want we must first give, so send a smile someone's way and if you're really feeling nice send a card to a friend! 
But ABSOLUTELY NO SULKING, just loving: Loving those around you and primarily LOVING U!

And also remember that  whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely...think about such things. Philippians 4:8

&  feed that of which you hunger for; Love.
Because the hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. ~ Mother Teresa


From Me to U~ Happy Valentine's Day!  XOXO







© Copyright 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

Una Dieta Saludable ;)


So this week was the start of something new that I'm trying... a LOW carb diet. In the past I've done no carb diets, they worked, but they were extremely strict and energetically  draining. I usually would stay on the no carb diets for no longer than one week and do excessive ab work EVERYDAY. But that almost requires you to literally do nothing throughout the day so you can dedicate  your time and energy to exercise and rest! I must admit though, for a quick fix, It worked! 

So far since Monday, I've created a menu for myself which included fruits such as: apples, oranges, grapes and mangos; breakfast food options included: Cheerios or Oatmeal; dinners: baked chicken, string beans and sauteed mushrooms, man which (no bread) and salad, chicken stir fry- grilled chicken strips, sauteed onions, green&red peppers and mushrooms and lastly, pork chops with vegetables. I've also included Nature Valley Oat's' n Dark Chocolate granola bars as a snack LOL, probably not the best choice, I'll have to cut them out for next week!

I'm also sure to stay occupied throughout the day with class, study time and extracurricular activities. I find that gum chewing is a good way to keep from randomly snacking throughout the day. Also, carrying a bottle of water around to sip on helps to stay hydrated and flushed.      

Though I did have a small downfall at a boutique fashion show that offered a platter of freshly baked chocolate covered cookies, just couldn't resist! LOL,  I am still proud of myself for sticking to my menu for the week.

Next weeks goal: Working out 3x a week at minimum. 
Til' next time- Be Inspired, Smile, Stay Pretty &  LOVE U! 

~ Ciao <3 





© copyright 2012

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Growing larger and smaller from the inside out!

SO!  Let’s talk about holism, growth and Loving U!
Growing larger and smaller from the inside out and taking the necessary steps toward healthy hair, skin, nails, spirituality, physicality and overall growth.   

1. Hair

I first off have to thank my sister Aleah for helping to get me started in the right direction toward growing my hair back. She started a profile at Keep It Simple Sista (K.I.S.S.) hair blog by Traycee and has gotten great ideas for hair growth, which helped the two of us get our long, healthy, beautiful hair back! Now everyone has different types of hair, but for most types, particularly ethnic, moisture is essential! Whether you rock it long and swanky or short and sexy let’s do it with class and a constant awareness of our natural hair's protection, health and growth.


End trims are always necessary for hair growth, but having a reliable stylist is a MUST.You don't want someone who's always "chop shoppin'!"



Sew-Ins are great protective styles, IF done correctly. I personally like to stick with someone who I trust and know will do my hair in a way where I can easily manage and moisturize my scalp regularly. There are so many other methods to using weave, but when I use it, I prefer the common ol' sew in.

You want to make sure you're oiling your scalp once a week AT MINIMUM, just before washing it so that you're not left with that sticky greasy look. No one wants a hot mess weave!!

I am currently managing my natural hair myself and I use some of the same methods I did when I had the sew-in, which helped my hair grow back. I'm sure to load my hair with oil and wrap it the night before washing it, this allows the oil to penetrate during the night (You can also put a heating cap over it for maybe a half hour before you go to sleep if you have one) Being stationed in Kalamazoo, I wash my hair with two gallons of distilled water and spray heat protector on it before blow drying and flat ironing. I also put a light cream on my scalp half way throughout the week.  

Some excellent oils and creams to use are: 100% Virgin Olive oil, Hot Six oil, Castor oil, Jojoba oil, Carrot oil and 100% Virgin Coconut oil. Pantene Daily Oil Cream for Colored Women.

Some great shampoo& conditioners : Pantene, Creme of Nature and Organic Root-Stimulating Olive Oil 

2. Skin

The key here is CLEAR SKIN FIRST! Like hair, everyone’s skin type is different; be it oily, dry or acne prone, but you must find what cleansing products work best for you to give off that FLAWLESS GLOW!!


In the past I've spent lots of money on facial cleansing products and finding what works for your skin can be quite an adventure. I've learned that there are actually a few products that work for me like: Proactiv, Biore and Queen Helene's Cocoa Butter facial scrub. I am currently using Black Soap, which can be found at most beauty supply stores and I love it!

What my sister and I have come to conclude from this experiment with all these products is that after a certain amount of time your skin becomes resistant to them, so it may be beneficial to get into a routine that works!
Maybe use more than one product  at a time and switch them on and off every few months. 
Also be mindful of your foods and drinks, limit your pop intake and instead drink plenty of water. Remember we’re working from the inside out ;)

After you’ve cleansed your skin and embraced your natural beauty, feel free to add make up to enhance it! but remember make-up should do just that ENHANCE not overwhelm.

 Now of course the amount that you apply would vary according to the occasion and the look you're going for; be it another day on campus, at work or a night out with the girls!
Make sure you're not clogging your pores with too much foundation and DEFINITELY not committing the ultimate SIN: Sleeping with your makeup on! But just think, if we work from the inside out, we won't have as many blemishes to cover up anyway. ;)

3. Nails
Every Diva loves a nice nail job, but bi-weekly professional mani’s and pedi’s can be quite expensive for a college girl. So I've been taking these vitamins for hair, skin and nail support called Biotin and this is the FIRST TIME EVER that my nails have been this long and strong, they almost feel like fake nails, I love it!  LOL.  I not only strongly recommend these vitamins to everyone, which are only $2 at Walmart, but I also advise that you use what you have or buy one bottle of fairly inexpensive nail polish per month and GET CREATIVE! Save money and don't damage your nails using Acrylic all the time. 











Pictures found at Google Images

© Copyright 2012