Farewell 2015 | Memorable Moments

Another year is coming to a close and again, so much has happened on a national and local level. I prefer to reflect on the more positive events that have happened this year in my life.

So, what went down this year: 

• Anniversary | Hubby and I were able to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary by taking our annual trip to the coast to relax. It is always a joy to get away with him and just take in sights and sounds of the coast.

• Retirement | My mother retired this year and now has the joy of... DOING WHATEVER SHE WANTS  with her time. I feel like I was more excited than she was. It is always nice to see someone hit the milestone of retirement [in my eye]. Praying I get the reach that mark.

• Birthday | Our family was blessed with the birth of our baby girl this Summer. It was a trying time but I would not take it back for anything. Parenting is definitely a new venture that we're so excited to go on.

What were your most memorable moments of 2015?

Positive energy to all in the new year!

Pick 6 | Fall 2015

Happy [S]Winter to all the folks that live in NC and anywhere else that is experiencing warmer than usual weather. Side Note: I saw someone riding their dirt bike in nothing but shorts on CHRISTMAS DAY...no shoes, tank top...just shorts. Just wanted to share that.
Any-who, the warm weather has thrown me completely off and I realized that I hadn't posted my Pick 6 for Fall.

Hair | Shea Moisture Hair Color system
FINALLY was able to get my hands on a box of it and someone may be wondering "Why is she just getting is considering it has been out for a while?": I prefer to get my products on the ground and was not able to find this item in store for a while. I actually found it in Vance Co. at one of the beauty supply stores. 
I colored my hair a while back and as it grew out it began to get brighter and brighter and I was over it. Wanted to color it again however, wanted to try Shea Moisture's system to see how it worked: 

• Comes with Raw Shea Butter shampoo, conditioner and oil (samples)
• Fast acting system (color took quickly to my tresses)
• Smelled good (unlike other colors I have used)   

   I decided to go Jet Black to cancel out the previous color

*I am team Shea Moisture so as always, no complaints with their product*

Fashion | Sweaters
Again, weather really hasn't permitted me to wear a lot of layers BUT, I have taken advantage of the cooler days to rock my sweaters. My favorite would have to be my soft pink and grey leopard print sweater from Torrid (purchased last year). Love it!






Beauty | L.A. Girl PRO Conceal
This item can be found in some beauty supply stores and at a decent price. I use their concealer when doing my brows (which I am just getting back on). It blends well with my complexion. I have been using this for more than a year now and enjoy it.

Skin | Cocoa Butter Stick
Still rocking with it to help fade hyper pigmentation on my face from scaring. Butter stick of choice is Cococare (found at my go to beauty supply store).








Accessories | Faux Frames (glasses)
This has been a trend for a while and I finally found some really nice slight cat-eyed frames and have been rocking for a while now. I was actually wearing them a bit in the summer but the past few months I have rocked them as if they are real...Like seriously: walk out the door for work and come back in the house to grab them like is was a MUST (mainly because I was not doing my brows and thought I was disguising it). 

Random | 719 Walnut Avenue Candle (Mahogany Driftwood)
I enjoy watching shopping hauls on YT and The Bronze Goddess picked up this large almost Bath & Body Works-ish candle that she said came from Walmart. Figured I would give it a go since it would of course be cheaper than B&BW. 
I will say the first day I burned this candle I was disappointed because it wasn't as fragrant as she proclaimed however, after the first burn it lit up the house...Very impressed and will be buying more.


What items have you enjoyed this Fall? 

15 Questions | Fall Tag

Scarfs, sweaters, comfort food, beautiful scenery and family/group gatherings; All the signs that Fall is here and we are beginning to close out yet another year. With that being said,  I ran across a Fall Tag online and figured I would take a crack at answering the questions. 

Here we go!

1. Favorite candle scent?
When is comes to actual candles, I'm a fan of fruitier scents however, in wax melts I enjoy Glades Cashmere woods; Somethings about this scent gives off a fresh manly scent.

2. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?
I like them all equally in the colder months: 
Coffee choice is Maxwell House Hazelnut or French Vanilla. Tea, Biglowe Lemon Ginger tea. Hot chocolate...No preference, its all delicious.

3. What's the best the Fall memory you have?
Growing up on the coast, our family had a large tree in the front yard so when Fall hit all the leaves would fall and I kind of enjoyed helping rake the leaves into piles. I also enjoyed falling into said piles of leaves until one day I discovered a slug was on me afterwards...So ended that experience.

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips off winged eyeliner?
I would have to say winged eyeliner. I have yet to find a lipstick that I think fits me. 

5. Best fragrance for fall?
My mother stocked me up on The Body Shop's Warm Amber body wash a few years back and after giving away 2 and realizing that I really enjoyed the scent...I fell in love. I finally used up all my bottles and now I am missing it *insert sad face emoji*

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food(s)?
*So yeah...Thanksgiving has come and gone buuuuuut* Hands down: Mom's sweet potato pie, granny's cranberry salad (please note: this is NOT that crap that comes in a can...Granny hooks it up) and stuffing.

7. What is Autumn weather like where you live? 
Living in NC that weather is crazy; it could be Fall and Monday the high is 48. Tuesday 75 with a chance of rain... It is very random.

8. Most worn sweater? 
Last Fall I really got into purchasing sweaters and my favorite is this soft pink and grey leopard print one purchased from Torrid.

9. Must-have nail polish this Fall?
I won't say this is a must have however, I do have a favorite Fall color. I spoke of this years ago in my Pick 6 for Fall: Five Below has/had a burgundy polish called "Jazz Hands" that I enjoy wearing in Fall.

10. Football games or jumping in leaves?
Honestly, I'm not too much pressed for either of the two.

11. Skinny jeans or leggings?
I would choose skinny jeans (personally not a fan of wearing leggings in public).

12. Combat boots or Uggs?
Uh... Combats boots ALL DAY LONG. I have never been into the Uggs trend.

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?
In my opinion...No. I would much rather have hazelnut flavor or something with the taste of sweet potato.

14. Favorite Fall TV show?
I absolutely LOVE AMC's The Walking Dead (follow #DemDeadz  on Twitter for great commentary during the show)...And now I'm patiently waiting for February to come for the new episode.

15. What song really gets you into the Fall spirit?
*crickets* there really isn't a song that gets me in the Fall spirit.


So, who do I tag???? EVERYONE!
 *ready, set, go!*

Pick 6 | Summer 2015

Well hello and welcome to Fall. This season came in with cold rain and wind from Hurricane Joaquin. It is really making me look back on the past weeks of warm weather. With that being said, lets jump into my...

Hair | Entwine Couture Exotique Butter-Creme Hydrator
No major changes with hair this summer as I'm still rocking with the Butter-Creme Hydrator from this past spring until it is all gone. I can apply the hydrator to my hair WITHOUT spritzing with water and my hair feels soft and rejuvenated.

Fashion | Tank tops
For years I wasn't a sleeveless gal because of the amount of fat on my triceps. It makes it hard to find blazers and/or blouses that fit properly so, I hid under tops that actually fit. This summer, I have thrown all that out of the window because... It is too hot to hide. Now, that doesn't mean I'm wearing halter tops but I have been in and out of Target buying tank tops. I like the Ava & Viv tanks and have them in grey, aqua, burgundy and black.




Beauty | Couture Couture by Juicy Couture
While this fragrance has been around for a while, I was introduced to it in December of last year. The top notes are citrus based (mandarin oranges and grace fruit) which for me fit perfect as a refreshing summer fragrance. I've really been observing the packaging of items and this bottle is very cute.


Skin | Water
I have shared water has being one of my Pick 6 in Spring  2014 when it came to hair. It has definitely helped me this summer in keeping my skin clear of breakouts. I fell off horribly and have been enjoying juice and SODA (yikes).



Accessories | My wedding ring
For a few months I hadn't been able to wear my full set due to *clears throat* fat[ter] fingers (lol). I have finally been able to wear them now and didn't realize how much I missed them. Sir upgraded me this past Christmas after he saw me [online] window shopping. (Sorry, I'm not giving details on where it came from).



Random | knee highs 
Now you are probably wondering "is she seriously TALKING about rocking knee highs... And in the SUMMER of all seasons?!" Yes I am, BUT... not the way they were intended; with me still rocking the undercut, a puff is my signature hairstyle however, I know it puts stress on my hair. To make it a little easier to wear and put less tension on my hair, I use a knee high in place of a ponytail holder; It gives me the ability to adjust it as loose or as tight as I want unlike a ponytail holder.
I simply tie the knee high around my hair and carefully pull it until I have the desired height and tension.

What items did you enjoy this summer?

My World | Throwback Thursday - Your Critics

Hello loves. Wanted to share a post I create over 2 years on another site and wanted to share as it is relevant still...

Family and friends are your best and worst critics:

I find myself at times being more nervous around family and friends than I do around total strangers. I’ve realized that this is because they know YOU. These are the people that will give you their honest opinion and not spare your feelings. This is not to discourage you…It is done in hopes that you’ll take heed to what is being said.

To my family and friends [otherwise known as my critics]…I thank you and I love you

Even though this is still relevant in my life (for example, I have no problem talking to new hires at my job however, getting up and speaking in front of people I've known for year and/or my whole life bothers me sometimes). 

Does anyone else feel this way?

Motivation/Music Monday

Hey hey!

Wanted to come and spread some positive energy and/or motivation:

The past few months have brought on new things for hubby and I; by far the most challenging phase we've had (and trust, we have not lived on "Easy Street").

For me, staying positive is hard because I'm a worry wart and have been for many years. What balances me out? My husband. He is strong even in our scariest moments and is always there telling me "WE GOT THIS". His faith is so strong and I aspire to be in that same place.

I AM A WORK IN PROGRESS

Something else that helps me exude positive energy or motivation is music as it has a way of pulling on your emotional strings. Whether I'm looking to be calm, hype, serene... I have songs that will help take me there.

My motivational song of choice for the past few months has been and still is, is Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds". 

The lyrics are repetitive HOWEVER the message is clear:

"Don't worry, about a thing. Because every little thing, gonna be all right..."

This is my reminder that we can't stress over things out of our control. You do what you can and have faith that things will turn out in your favor.

I'm not saying that this fixes things for me but this is a start to take my mind to a calmer place.

Let me know your song(s) of motivation.

Natural Hair Anniversary

July 2nd marked 6 years being relaxer free. This past year has simply been a year of maintaining health and trying new things.

In September, I finally got up the nerve to do give my self an undercut (click >>>here<<< for more on my cut). I am still loving this cut and I'm still able to do some of the styles that I did prior.
I also took this time to grow my color out because I just wasn't feeling it anymore. I honestly liked how the color looked once it began to grow out.

Things that I've learned this year about my hair this year? Nothing really. Other than the cut, I haven't really experimented with many products, styles or regimens. The previous years have taught me just enough to keep my hair in decent condition

Staple products? If you look at any of my Pick 6 post, you'll know that I am #TeamSheaMoisture...This also applies to hair products; I use their Superfruit Complex shampoo and conditioner for cleansing, my whipped shea butter mixture as well as home mix of oils (whatever I choose to mix) to lock in moisture. For styling products, I use Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Curl Defining Pudding.

Go-to styles? With my cut, I have been wearing "The Puff" on a regular (mainly because I rarely feel like doing my hair). I have also done faux top knots, pompadours and my version of a Halo braid or what I like to call the twisted crown.

No real plans this year with  my hair other than possibly coloring it again. I am really interested in trying out Shea Moisture's Hair Color system... And although the "internets" is saturated with tutorials on this product, I may come with a demo.

Natural Hair Anniversary

July 2nd marked 5 years since I starting the journey of going back natural and 4 years of be being fully naturally (all processed hair being completely gone).  

Year 2 <<< Click to view my 2 year anniversary

A lot of trial and error to figure out what agreed with my hair/scalp and what didn't. Within that year did discover that my hair is in love with pomades and oils. Year 2 also forced me into a regimen because again with trial and error I learned that my hair needs a little more TLC in its natural state (ie: moisturizing, taming, protecting, etc.). With protecting my hair, I  learned to better style it. Growing up I learned how to braid and flat twist from my mother but rarely put this talent to use because my go to style was simply flat ironing or curling it. Thanks to YT I was able to jump back in and perfect this taught craft and do more protective styling to let my hair rest.

Year 3 <<< Click to view my 3 year anniversary

Experimenting with styles. Now knowing that I was able to do my own hair I tried out a lot of different styles: kinky twist, flat twist, marley hair, twist outs, braid outs, and everything in between. I discovered what I call my go to hair style, as well as an interest in cutting my hair in a style... Never did it though.

Year 4 left out the element of surprise since I know what works for my hair and what styles I can jump to as a last resort. Returning natural  4  years ago brought on a lot of research as far as what product has the least amount if not, any chemicals and what products had ingredients that would help promote healthy hair. With that in mind it made me think this year about not only being concerned about what I put on my scalp but also what I'm putting in my body. 

I have been pushing myself to eat better and take care of myself. Now, I am no poster child for Healthy, Clean, Me or anything but, when shopping for groceries I am more conscience about what I buy. More fresh fruits and veggies, and less pre-packed/processed foods. Less beef and pork, and more lean meats. We have also cut back on eating out, which forces us to eat our groceries before they go bad AND keeps more money in our pockets.

Going back natural was a choice that I initially made because I was frustrated with the result I was getting with my alternative styling method...That being relaxers. At this moment in my life, I have been frustrated with the results that I a getting from not taking care of my body so, I'm trying to shift gears and push hard to work towards a better me ALL AROUND.

Has your natural hair journey opened the door(s) to other aspects of life that you want to work on?

- Creatively Coiled

Pick 6 - Spring

It has been such a long time since I last posted (actually since the last Pick 6 for Winter). Summer is here and it is time to share my...

So... Lets jump right in!!!



Hair: Entwine Couture Exotique Butter-Creme Hydrator - For whatever reason, I was sleeping on this product for a few months and I honestly do not know why. What made me revisit it?: a frustrating moment of running and hands through my DRY hair trying to figure out what I already owned that could help other than using shea butter to seal in moisture. I can apply the butter-creme hydrator to my hair WITHOUT spritzing with water and my hair feels soft and rejuvenated.

>>Click here to to see my review on this is other Entwine products<<

Fashion: Palazzo Pants - being comfortable is the name of the game and I am personally tired of wearing slacks to work. I am so glad and palazzo pants are still a trend and can be found almost everywhere. I am stocking up on them now and my stores of choice are Target (check out the Ava and Viv collection) and Cato...Which by the way, was something else I was sleeping on. Side Note: I hadn't stepped foot in Cato in well over 2 years and honestly forgot about it but a friend reintroduced me to the store and I am impressed.

Beauty: Eyebrow pencils - meh! I really don't have much to say about this except that... I have limited hair above the eye and therefore choose to enhance it by filling them in. My favorite brow pencils are by e.l.f. and NYX.

>>Click here to see my eyebrow demo<<

Skin: Dermasil - If you have read any of the past Pick 6, you may be aware that I have troubling skin (ie: sometimes dry, oily, hyper pigmented....blah, blah, blah). Now I am dealing with my eczema breaking out on my wrist and ring finger...My left ring finger to be exact. Dermasil combats the dryness of my eczema and keeps it from itching. I using the formula for extra dry skin.






Accessories: Crocs flat shoes - OK, so don't judge me and don't take me off you "Cool" list...If I was ever on it but. I am LOVING them. I hated Crocs when they 1st came out because they are hideous however, knowing that they have different styles have helped a lot of people (including myself) accept them. These things are so comfy. I will certainly be purchasing more to wear to work

Random *Wish List Item*: Fujifilm Instax mini 8 - I have seen this camera circulating on line and it is adorable. It takes me back to the old school Polaroid instant camera that my parents owned. I though it was so cool sitting there shaking my the picture anticipating the image. It may seem like overload because I have a digital camera and my phone but I don't care... I want one. They run about $70.00 and I am considering it (no time soon but I am interested).

What items were you loving on this Spring?

Pick 6 - Winter

Well, hello Spring. Even though the warm weather hasn't officially settled in  I must say that I am looking forward to any sight of sunshine and warm weather BUT, before we move on past the chills let me share my...

Hair: African Braid Durban Twist Hair - I lucked up on this at a nearby beauty supply trying to figure out a quick way to style my hair. What really caught my attention was the definition: as if it were in large twist. The texture of the hair is softer than other braiding hair I have used in the past which is also a plus for me. I wasn't in the mood to do any detailed styling so I resulted to simple top knots to keep my hands out of my hair for a while. I buy this hair again and attempt to install kinky twist.






Fashion: Trench coat from Target - I purchase this coat well over 4 years ago for $13.00 from Target and I absolutely love it. With the cold weather that hits North Carolina, it is nice to have a nice long coat to wear. It is also machine washable so I have no problem keeping it clean.






Beauty: Very simple for the this Winter - A cocoa butter stick. Along with dry skin I suffer from hyper pigmentation  on my face which happens very easily when I mess the the acne on my face. If I catch these dark spots soon enough, I'm able to correct them by slathering cocoa butter on spot before I go to bed.








Skin: Shea Moisture Massage Oils - If you didn't know already, I'm #TeamSheaMoisture. Once out of the shower, I simply apply this to my skin without completely drying off to help lock in moisture. I've been enjoying the Olive and Green Tea oil.








Accessories: Stud earrings from Target - I wear these literally everyday when I'm  not looking to over do the ear glam. They are simple but "blinged" out a bit where I do not feel like I am doing too much.

Random: Hmmmm. I would have to say that my random this Winter is BAGELS - I've really been leaning with them hard this season as a quick breakfast. I have  enjoyed all wheat and poppy seed bagels 

with Garden Vegetable cream cheese.




Share with me your favorites from Winter :)

No Fast Food February UPDATE

February has come and gone so, I wanted to come and give you my...

UPDATE

I honestly enjoyed this challenge as it forced me to really plan out our meals: prepping food a day in advance and going into my recipe box to pull out some recipes that I hadn't used in a while. Along with this challenge, we tried our best to prepare meals that consisted of fresh produce so there was a lot of fresh veggies filling the fridge and with there being more fresh food, we were more moved to go ahead and actually cook and eat so none of it would go to waste.

With the cold weather taking over the month, comfort food was the name of the game: 

Pictures Clockwise: Grilled peppers and onions (rice not pictured).
Turkey Kielbasa, peppers, potatos and onions.
Buffalo chicken, broccoli, cheese and potatoes.
Turkey chili.

We enjoyed a lot of hearty meals throughout the month and had the opportunity to take a crack at making a soup (mind you, this is was a very random soup where I literally just purchased broth and veggies...Chopped 'em up and threw them in a pot... It turned out yummy):

Shared via Instagram

Shared via Instagram

With all of this being said. I am sad to report that I only made it 14 days straight without any fast food (insert sad face here). See, what had happened was...Sir and I hit the town and on Valentine's night and had all the intentions of coming home and preparing a meal HOWEVER, mother nature saw fit to hit Wake County with winds so harsh that when we arrived home, our power was out. 

All in all, we had takeout food 5 times last month...Which to me, was still good although I would have loved to complete the full 28 days with just home cooked meals. This was easy on the pockets and helped us clean out the fridge and actually start eating more of what we purchased. 

I will be trying this again. 

Did you participate in #NoFastFoodFebruary? If so, did you make it through the month?

-creatively coiled

Guess Who's Back?

Having a larger figure than the average person means there are limited choices as far as clothing stores with trendy items that are reasonably priced. So when I find a store I stick with it.

Unfortunately, in the later part of last year, a store that I would frequent for cute and simple items announced they were closing down HOWEVER, this past Saturday I received the following email:

Is this a cruel joke?: Sending me an email to a store that [last I checked] was long gone.

So, I followed the link and realized that there is an online ordering option. To verify, I did a Google search for news and discovered that dots was bought by a company in Florida that decided to give the chain another chance. Along with this, some of the store locations would reopen. 

(Source: crainscleveland.com)

So yes, dots is back and the location in Garner, NC has re-opened. I took the time to swing through to take a look at things and while speaking with a sales rep was informed that the store has been opened since January 30th.

Were you a dots shopper? If so what items do you enjoy?

No Fast Food Febuary

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

POSITIVE ENERGY TO ALL IN 2015

Watching what we eat is easier said than done. Over the past 3 years sir and I have worked on improving our eating habits to assist in our physical and financial health however, depending on "variables" that play a part of our daily life, we've found it to be difficult at times to stay on track: 

Late work day: Grab a fast food meal on the way home.

Late night(s) out on the town: Grab a fast food meal on the way home. 

Forgetting to prep dinner and/or just not in the mood to cook: ...You get the gist...

We have certainly come a long way as I can remember a time when we ate out almost everyday. There are some fast food restaurants that have been completely removed from the radar and we make better choices when ordering but it can get better. 

While we aren't as bad as we use to be with eating out and/or ordering in, we are still looking to improve this habit. I have personally noticed that when I do eat out a lot... I feel bad physically.

Mission for the month: No Fast Food... Again, easier said than done with it being so easy to just hop in the car and swing through someones drive-thru for a quick bite but, with the help of Pinterest (ie: yummy fast food meal substitutes) and restraint, we can make this happen. 

Our plan is to avoid outside foods all together: fast food and ANY sort and dining out will be prohibited this month. I know some are thinking "well, what about Valentine's Day?". Well... what about it??? We can still have a lovely dinner at home (as we have many times. I really enjoy preparing dinner rather than going out on V-Day).

I'll be sharing some of our meals via social media (mainly Instagram @Creatively_Coiled) and maybe at the end of the month I'll post all the pictures her on the blog. 

Do you and your family make it a point NOT to eat out? Do you have any tips that would help others avoid the call of fast food?