Shimmer Me All Over!

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks $39
These Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are gorgeous! What I love about Shimmer Brick powder is that it's versatile; you can use it alone on your cheeks for a subtle glow, over your favorite blush, for a wash of shimmer on your lids, or even a light sweep along your decolletage. It's a subtle hint of long lasting color.

My favorite Shimmer Brick is Beige. At $39 per compact you may be looking for an alternative. Try Physician Formula Strips. Get them for $10.97 at Walmart. Take a look in my beauty closet!

The Natural Hair Diet: 10 Delicious Foods Called the Natural Hair Power-Foods

Deep condition, moisturize, hydrate! Those are important steps in retaining length and nurturing strong, healthy natural hair. But when it comes to healthy hair, its more than what you put in it. It's what you put into your body that is the foundation upon which your hair is grown. The Natural Hair Diet revolves around 10 delicious foods called the Natural Hair Power-Foods.

Hair needs nutrients to thrive and achieve optimum growth and optimum health. The Natural Hair Power-Foods include the best sources of vitamins, protein, omega 3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. These include Biotin, Vitamin B-12, Niacin aka Vitamin B3, and Vitamins C, E, D, and A. You can base entire meals around these 10 power-foods but all you need to do is incorporate them into your meals or eat them as snacks between meals. An overall balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins will keep hair healthy.

Ballet Flats are Hugging Feet All Over the World

For the longest time I refused to wear ballet flats as I watched them line the shelves of shoe and apparel stores. Besides the fact that flats are foreign to my "been wearing heels since high school" feet, they seemed like a fad that would disappear quickly once the gimmick was over. Now that I'm on my feet sometimes 12 to 14 hours a day, transitioning from work to school and from school to events, my feet are in desperate need of a break. 

One of the recent events I attended as a volunteer was the DIFFA fashion event and silent auction. To prepare for a long evening, I headed over to H&M and found a nice pair of dressy black open toe ballet flats because I refuse to wear closed toe flats, and a small clutch with a wrist handle to carry my girly essentials. Although I didn't have to put them to use that night, it was the anticipated feeling of relief that kept me at a steady pace as the night edged on. I have since worn them to work several times and my days have been less tiring and my feet much happier.

I won't be boxing up my heels anytime soon but my feet definitely deserve a little TLC from time to time and another pair of ballet flats may be in my future. TOMS is now offering a line of ballet flats to their ever popular collection of shoes, which support their One for One Movement. For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, a pair is given to a child in need in developing countries around the world.

Xoxo,

Naumi

The Great Detangler by Taliah Waajid Gets a Curls Up

 

I'm almost two months post TC; transition chop for those of you who didn't know, and I'm loving my hair! Curls excite me just as much as the next curly girl. Seeing my hair form waves, ringlets, spirals and curls gives me a thrill. The moment I snipped my first string of relaxed ends and twisted the end around my finger tip I felt like I hit the jackpot. But as much as I love seeing the texture of natural hair, my main focus is building and retaining moisture. Without it, my hair wouldn't thrive and I'd be battling breakage like a scene from Battle Los Angeles. Love that movie!

Now that I'm 100% natural, I've tried a few new products to add moisture to my tresses and I've become a fan of Taliah Waajid's leave-in conditioner "The Great Detangler". The first thing I noticed immediately was the smell. I'm sensitive and reactive to the scents of cleaning sprays and air fresheners to deodorants and perfumes. Happily this product has a light scent so my sensitive nose can withstand it.

Just like skin care products not all hair care products and hair routines produce the same results year around. Because this product contains glycerin, which is one of the best-known humectants, the results may not be the same in hot vs. cool weather so I will more than likely eliminate it for the summer months.

Curls up:

• The price was good for an 8 oz bottle at $6.49 from a local beauty supply store

• The first item on the ingredient list is water
  
• Also includes vitamin E, olive oil, and Shea butter; all good hair ingredients

• The product can be used on wet or dry hair and it moisturizes best for me on dry hair

• It softens my tresses as it detangles quickly and easily

• The product is light and offers lasting moisture

• It's water-based and great for twist or braid-outs on dry hair
  
• It has a light creamy consistency

Curls down:

• This product does contain mineral oil
• Some people complain of build up when used on dry hair; Tip: just add water

What are your thought on using products that contain mineral oil? As I continue to use The Great Detangler, I'll update this review as needed. If you've used Taliah Waajid's leave-in conditioner, tell me about it.

Happy detangling!

Oversize Your Wardrobe at the Sales Rack

I'm shopping like a crazed maniac! Why? Well, USPS managed to lose, misplace, or possibly slip into their little pocket three boxes of my clothing in transition from Los Angeles to Dallas. No tracking number, no tracking. Lesson learned.

After wiping the tears away to see things more clearly, I realized I had a very good reason; even a duty, to shop. But I had to be smart. I had to maximize my shopping budget so I decided that I would only shop sale items and spend less than $10 per item but the quality of the item had to render me at least 10 wears or more. That's less than $1 per wear! The second criteria was to buy items that I could mix and match with my basics.

I shopped Rue 21, Papaya, Forever 21, and Kohl's. Kohl's sales racks were filled with dresses and tops from 40% to 80% off. My first visit, I walked out with a shopping bag containing five tops for $20. Understandably, I've been back to Kohl's several times over the past two months on a mission to replenish my wardrobe from the 80% off sales rack. I've filled my closet with some amazing tops for $8.00 or less. You can't beat an 80% off sale unless the clothes are free.

Here are a few tips on effectively shopping a sales rack to oversize your wardrobe: