It's been a long time!

Hello All,

So I have been gone for about 3 years (give or take a month but who's counting). It my last post, I stated that I met a guy. But we'll get to that in a minute.

So much has gone on in my life. I has started a bookkeeping business in early 2011. But I wasn't able to get first good client until mid 2012. Funny thing about starting a business. Clients just do not come knocking down the door for your expertise. You seriously have to hustle. Then in late 2012, I was given the opportunity to manage a tax office for the 2013 tax season. The owner decided that he wanted to do something different and I was afforded the ability to purchase the business. I was so happy and so fortunate to have this opportunity to make my own money my own way.

What more could a girl who thought she didn't have much to offer do with herself? Well while I was on this ride, this dude was right there by side being my own personal cheerleader. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I mean seriously. Around Christmas of 2010 I was laying my bed just believing that I was gonna live a life with a husband or children. But then after the new year, I just snapped out of it and said I have to this life that GOD has dealt me work.

I started making plans for a single girl who wanted a family and this dude came into my life. His name is Giovonni. We were taking it slow and having fun. We were seeing each other on the regular and talking like teenagers. I'm talking about the whole sleeping on the phone and everything. I liked him more than I expected. Crazy thing about this dude. I liked him A LOT and he seemed to like me just as much. So I married him. Oh yeah. Just a little over two years in, he asked and I said yes. It didn't quite happen that way but who cares. Engaged around my birthday in 2013 and married on May 24, 2014.

I don't need to find a million reasons why. This Is Us and this is how we love! ~Keyshia Cole

Yes, ladies! That is my tall glass of Hershey's chocolate milk!!!!

Anyhoo, I'm back on track with weight loss. I joined a gym. Right now I can only make it twice a week. But that is going to change in the very near future. Also, I'm still natural but I have colored my hair as you can see from my wedding photo. I love this color and I'm never going back to the dark (if I can help it).

Team Naturale

So I think you're all caught up with me. This blog is just a way for me to express myself and share a little piece of me with you. I will try to post once a week or every two weeks. I will post in a few days. I found this great website called $5 Dinners. The host, Erin, walks you through how to make 20 slow cooker meals. I looked at her video and it's awesome. If you have a busy family, please visit the website. She has SO many tips and recipes. So I'm doing it because my hubby and are both business owners (he owns a moving company) and sometimes (like during tax season) we get home really late. Having the option of these dinners may be a god-send. I'm going to video myself preparing the meals and post it IF it goes well.

Til next time! XOXO

Love,

Danielle

No longer MIA

Hey Peeps,

I been gone for about 2 weeks. Two major things have happened: 1) I started a new job (after unemployed for a month and a half) and 2) I started seeing someone. No worries. These two things will not take me off my journey. They are little accents to it.

Let's talk first about the first thing. I interviewed for this position almost 2 months ago. It's an A/P Clerk position. I did this same duties 5 years ago. I liked it then and I'm sure that I will like it now. I just completed my first week this past Friday. The good thing about this week is that I started with 7 other newbies. The bad thing is that I started with 7 other newbies. LOL. Everyone is very nice and we all started at the same time. I'm looking forward to the possibilities and a long relationship.

The second thing is the dating. Let me say this: I haven't given up on dating. I was giving up finding a sane dude that said what he meant and meant what he says. I'm a real woman. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending how you look at it), I'm also a woman who had a sheltering momma and got married really young.With that said, I don't know how to date. I know what I want in a dude and I know how I want him to treat me. I have made some major mistakes since my divorce. One of which is thinking all men are like my ex husband. SO NOT TRUE. My ex was man who treated a woman with the utmost respect. It seems men like him are a rare breed. LOL. He was a great hubby. I don't really believe in regrets. However, I can say, my divorce is definitely #1. (hindsight is 20/20) I have found some OK men but for most part men are assholes. They are't assholes on purpose; it's part of their make up. I'm learning that men will show you how they are right from the beginning. It's women that twist the signs and trust me I have done my share of twisting. No more.

I have met a man. I'm taking it slow with him. We're seeing each pretty frequently but there is no expectations (on either side) and I'm taking him at face value. We are having fun with time we have. This is my experiment. I will see what happens. If what I want to happen doesn't happen, my expectations is to continue with my life and keep it moving (with whatever moving is, LOL).

Anyhoo, I will post later the lip scrub and an update on my hair journey. I cannot WAIT until this first phase is over. LOL!


Love you lots,
Danielle

Hair Journey: Update

Hello Peeps,

I made it (barely) thru the first 4 weeks of my hair journey. To remind you all of what this will entail, the first part of my journey will end on June 30. I will wear a weave for 4-5 weeks at a time up until that time.

Today, I took down my first weave. My head was itching so much. Since I am now 4 months post of a relaxer, my dandruff is coming back. This is what is making my head itching. Itching is unattractive. Although I got the tea tree oil, I didn't use it as much as I should have. So now I know what I need to do to keep the itching to a minimum and the dandruff at bay. I will add a few drop tea tree oil to my coconut oil. I use this every few day to keep my scalp moisturized. I'm also going to add 15 drops to my JASON Jojoba Shampoo. Although this shampoo has tea tree oil in it, a little more won't hurt.

I'm also happy to say, I didn't have a lot of breakage after I took out the braiding. I applied my conditioner in my  hair (before I combed it out) to make easy for the comb to go thru my hair. It was soooo thick. I'm leaving it on all night. In the morning, I will wash it out, wash my hair with JASON Jojoba Shampoo and use JASON Lavendar Conditioner. I will deep condition it with my conditioner concoction and braid it all up again and put the weave back in. I'll have a different style this time.

Check back later for a picture of how much hair grew.


XOXOXO
Danielle

Kissable Lips

Ok. It's been a minute since my last blog.

While doing research to continue my healthy hair journey, I came across some information about how to get soft lips. I'm still on the dating scene. I'm looking forward to the ever elusive first kiss. I haven't had that in a LONG while. Anyway, I decided to try this trick that you can do 2 times a week.

You will need:
a very small container (I'm using a glass tea light holder)
1/2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp sugar
soft toothbrush
lip brush
lip balm (the kind in the little round container)


Optional: 1/4 tsp honey
Lip balm recommendation: Sally Hansen Healing Butter Lip Brush

Mix the olive oil and sugar together. I used an extra orange stick. You can use your finger if you want but you will be wasting more than you want. Gently brush your lips for about 30 seconds. Rinse your lips with lukewarm water. Pat dry with paper towel or soft washcloth. Use the lip brush to apply the lip balm on your lips.

You may have a little left over, you can over with plastic wrap. Or you can mix it in a container and save it for later.

I recommend doing this at night. While you are sleeping, the olive oil has a chance to penetrate your lips to moisturize to make them soft from the inside.

I didn't post a video because I just wanted to try it first. My lips are so soft right now. I can't stop touching them. LOL. I'll post the video in 2 days.


XOXOXO
Danielle

My Hair Journey: Part 1

Part 1 of my hair journey is three months long. It will include me wearing a partial sew-in weave so I can wear the hair styles that I want without further damage to my hair. Check out how did my own sew-in.

Hair Regimen

Ok. I know the next video was supposed to be the nails. I got distracted with a lot of little things. I had to wash my hair so this video is the first part of my hair journey.

Who can post?

I should let you all know, you have to be my friend in order to post. So you either know me personally or you are my FB friend. I have witnessed some posts from some nasty people out there who just leaves nasty unnecessary posts because they find joy in it. I am on a journey that will be filled with enough unpleasantness. I don't need strangers being jerks on my blog.

Stay tuned!


XOXOXO
~Danielle