No Fast Food February

It's that time again!!!

February is coming and I'm attempting to do the #NoFastFoodFebruary challenge again this year.

In short, the idea of No Fast Food February is to avoid  take out food of any sort for the entire month. While accepting this chanllenge, I plan to share meals and recipes with you to give a glimpse into the domestic side of Creatively Coiled.

( Click >>> here <<< to view some of last years meal ideas)

Care to join me?

Well c'mon! Use the Hashtag #NoFastFoodFebruary on Instagram and share your meal ideas and recipes. 

Ready... Set...Go!

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.