Wash Day: Clean Scalp Edition

There are loads of different beliefs as far as what is best when it comes to washing curly hair these days but I can assure you that for my hair, it is necessary that I walk away from that shampoo basin with clean scalp. I use product (gels, curl creams, curl jellies and all types of curl shenanigans) in order to keep the frizz at bay. When wash day rolls around it is imperative that I wgrab a shampoo that can get to the root of removing all of these products from my hair and scalp.

Head and Shoulders was kind enough to send me their shampoo for textured hair and I am taking it for a whirl on “wash day.” Head and Shoulders is a staple and it works for keeping dandruff at bay. A clean scalp is necessary for growing long and strong hair so what better place to start than with a trusted shampoo.

After a deep shampoo and a leave in conditioner, I comb through my hair with a wide tooth comb and then brush through with a wide tooth brush. I then add my pure coconut oil to my hair and scalp (conservatively, not liberally) in order to guarantee a great shine. I am also trying a Txturepro comb and brush for the first time today.

Le Combo:

April 2, 2017 0

Self-Care Essentials

We often take care of so many things and people better than we care for ourselves. Self-care is on everyone’s tongue tips at the moment because so many of us just don’t take the time to slow down and grant ourselves small pleasures. Self-care can come as simple as lighting a candle at night to create a calming environment before bed. It can be taking a longer than usual bath or shower. Water does not only help cleanse the body but it also helps to center the mind. I use Sundays as a day where I carve out some time in the week to do some things just for me. there are some products that help to make the pampering just a bit easier. They aren’t pricey, obtainable and most importantly good!!

My favorite subscription box, Curlbox, makes a Curlbox Body Box and this edition featured products from “Eden Bodyworks“. The coconut and shea line adds moisture to skin and smells fantastic. Use it after a bath or shower and layer on your scents.

A good magazine is an essential and “Vanity Fair” always has great articles that are so well written they take you away. While reading I like to treat my face and hair. After deep cleaning my face, I add treatments like “Paula’s Choice” Vitamin C Spot Treatment and add some “Palmer’s” Cocoa butter to my lips for incredible moisture. I add “Jane Carter Solution” Seal and Shine serum to my strands for moisturized, tangle free and shiny hair. Oh, you can’t forget to give yourself a self-mani. These colors from “Old Navy” in collab with “Zoya” are perfect for Spring.

Yeah, no, I’m not on vacation and I’m not surrounded by water but this Ralph Lauren catalog took me away!!! How beautiful is this view?? I’m bathed, smelling good, feeling good and flipping through the pages of outdoor furnishing goals. I’m winning!

Finally, now that we’ve worked on pampering and improving the outside, let us focus on the inner health. Detoxing and feeding your body good food is probably the most important part of self-care. Hannah Bronfman, the creator of HBFIT, works out all the time and varies her workouts to fit her mood and body goals. She also eats clean and makes a detox soup from time to time that anyone can make at home. You simply saute these ingredients (onion, zucchini, asparagus and celery) in a pot, add stock (salt and pepper) and then blend. You’ve got soup for a few days!

What are your self-care tips?

March 22, 2017 0

Staycation Travel: The Gallivant Times Square

As Brooklynites, we love to look for a great hotel deal in Manhattan and spend the weekend in the big city whenever we can. There is a wanderlust in all of us and many times you don’t have to hop on a flight to satisfy the urge to travel. We love taking advantage of all that NYC has to offer and wander about in our own backyard. If you are saving, strapped for cash or just have a new life, possibly with children, and the airport (with delays and connecting flights) is no longer appealing then look into a staycation.

Our Weekend at The Gallivant:

Your view as you enter the hotel’s lobby. It’s fresh and modern with a great, comfortable interior. Friday, Check-In.

The message in the elevator says it all. Go discover!

There is a great little coffee and computer nook in the rear of the lobby.

2) The Room. It is small, like most NYC hotel rooms, buy cozy. The bed is the focal point of the room and you have plenty of photo op opportunities with this great white headboard.

The purple chair, gold table and printed (with NYC sights) wallpaper adds great color and a modern feel.

I always check the coffee area because I need coffee in the mornings. It’s my essential. I’ve never had Wolfgang Puck coffee before and it did not disappoint.

The bathroom had great marble and glass details.

The shea butter soap lathered soft and creamy.

3) Saturday.

hoteli201702_jr0103 — Shower and then braids. She has to be sick of the same two cornrows that I do every day. I told her that it’s her signature look. Lol.

hoteli201702_jr0204 — The subway is easily accessible when you are in the city and it’s the most efficient way to get around. We took the subway from Times Square to downtown, Essex Street to soak up some sights.

We got the chance to catch the last weekend of the underground park that I’ve been wanting to see. Artificial sunlight is used to grow exotic plants underground. I’m here for it.

hoteli201702_jr0197 — Next up, lunch at San Loco. Great Tex-Mex food.

hoteli201702_jr0270 — The look of sheer exhaustion. We went back to the room after our trek downtown and then took Angelique back downtown again for a friend’s birthday. We hopped on the bus because it took our straight to our hotel’s door. There was only one other passenger with us on the bus. Thanks MTA! It was a great ride.

4) Sunday

“You came in with the breeze, on Sunday morning.” (Gwen Stephanie). How I spent Sunday morning before checkout. It was the perfect time to unwind with the paper.

Angelique dug into a book that she picked up at the Scholastic office in Soho. The bookstore has been closed for some time now but you can pick up free books in their lobby if they have them available.

Twitter: @Gallivantnyc

You cannot beat this view!

The blk/wht images by: John Ricard

March 13, 2017 0

It’s (Still) All About The Benjamins Baby.

How much time do you spend learning about your money? Do you spend more time surfing the web and visiting social media sites than you do trolling the market stats or The Motley Fool? No worries. You are not alone and I too am guilty but the plan is to get better. We aren’t taught much about investing, money or financial planning in school (at any level) so it is up to us as independent individuals to gain knowledge ourselves in order to see how our money is currently working and for whom it is working for. If your money is in a traditional savings account at your local bank, odds are your money is not working best for you. This is because the interest you get is such a small one that it does not truly benefit you to have your money in a bank. The benefit goes to the bank that is in current possession of your coins. Finding the right investment vehicle that works in your best interest, in the long run, and for your money is crucial for financial freedom.

One quick way to educate yourself on a daily basis about money and master the terms that you need to know is to read the “Money Section” of the newspaper. If you don’t have access to hard copies of The New York Times , The Wall Street Journal or USA Today then subscribe to them online. Your money wants you to start speaking it’s language.

February 27, 2017 0

Ankara Bazaar: A Celebration of Color and Style.

On Saturday, February 18th, Ankara Bazaar hosted a fantastic event giving great independent designers and artists a platform to bring their wares directly to us, the consumer. Hosted in a great converted loft style building in DUMBO, Brooklyn, Ankara Bazaar brought us fashion shows, wraps, fabrics, original dresses, wines, and body care.

Don’t fret, if you missed the Brooklyn then you can catch the show in Philly and DC.

Runway Show:

Beautiful printed fabrics made into dresses and jumpsuits.

Reversible bomber jackets that are perfect for Spring.

Gorgeous fabrics in every design and pattern, cut in different styles that flatter all body types.

Vendors and Stylish Bazaar Goers:

Twitter:

@Ankarabazaar

February 26, 2017 0

Lovers Rock Edition: Red Lips

What is your perfect Valentine’s Day lip look? It has to be a look that takes you seamlessly from day to night. A hint of weekday business but weeknight sexy. I know there are no hard and fast rules but your lips must be the most perfectly succulent crimson because the day calls for it. Conjure your inner Sade and leave sexy pouts on your dinner flute, white napkin and on your lover’s collar.

sade — The iconic Sade wearing the perfect pout and the right amount of casual sexy.

Wear a Red Pout and Nothing Else:

February 15, 2017 0

Let It Be Glorious: Grammy Awards

Golden Girl Queen Bey!

Beyonce performed at this year’s Grammy Awards and did so majestically. She conjured deities from Christianity and African culture and wrapped it all up in song and soul. Even though Lemonade did not win album of the year, this image tells of the excellence that Beyonce continues to set. She won!

There were some other folks in attendance so let’s look at some of the fabulously dressed and well-coifed souls who we also love:

rihannagrammyssocial — Rihanna’s outfit was sculpted just so in order to give us a peek of her toned midsection and the dope tat but I was ALL about her auburn, flowy tresses. The shade was perfect for her skin and the flow is soft and takes us back to the Rihanna we first fell in love with.

jlo — Oh, hey JLo. She can do no wrong in my eyes. Some people felt the busy bow at the neck was too much but those women don’t know the rule, “when in doubt, do the most.”

Adele was the night’s big winner and we cannot deny the pipes on this woman. Talented and the homage that she paid to Beyonce was classy and proves she is indeed a class act who knows art and can compliment other artists. Kudos!

Soul Glo…Solo!! We love Solange and love her love of contemporary style gowns that evoke pieces of art that you might see in a museum. I hope she left a seat at the table for us because who wouldn’t mind sitting with Solange.

Has Heidi found the fountain of youth? Can she share the locale via airdrop? This Rockmom stuns in silver. She isn’t doing too much and the pieces are minimal but oh, so sexy.

maya — How excited was I to see Maya on the red carpet, wearing read and looking phenom. She didn’t clash with the carpet. It worked! She was serving just the right amount of skin and a strong pantsuit with great skin and hear. “*It’s all about me, me, me, me, me. Forget about you, you, you, you, you.*“

Coupled Up:

coupled-1 — Chrissy and John Legend. We can always depend on them for super cute appearances together. You can see the love in every picture they take together.

jay-z-beyonce-grammys-2017__opt — Lady in Red. *Sorry, I had to*. Beyonce’s red sequins jaw-dropping dress compliments all of the debonnaire that Jay-Z is serving in his skinny suit.

remi — Remy Ma looked like a princess in her mermaid cut crystal encrusted gown. Glad to see her doing well.

Did I miss anyone?

February 14, 2017 0

Soft Winter Skin and Strands

Winter can cause your skin to feel dry and damaged and what better than a great shea butter or oil to slather ALL over your skin in order to help protect your body’s biggest organ. Natural oils can penetrate the dry, cracked areas of your skin caused by the cold winter air. After the oil penetrates the skin, it then serves as a healing ointment that can help mend those cracks and repair damaged skin. As with all things, there are differences in all of our skin types and finding the right natural oil that works on your skin is key. Some folks kneel to the coconut Gods and others, well, avoid all things coconut on their hair, on their scalp, and on their skin because of breakouts or rashes that may be caused by the oil. In all things, Do You!

I went to Duane Reade/Walgreens recently and there was a major sale on all of my favorite hair and body products. I picked up some goodies in order to help keep my skin and strands super soft.

When we think of the benefits of lavender we automatically think of relaxation and calm. I used to bath my little one with a bit of lavender essence when she was tiny right before bed so that she slept well. This Shea Moisture oil is one that I use right out of the shower and I use it to protect my skin in the morning and at night.

There is enough oil here to last you about a month when used twice daily.

Can a product really get rid of cellulite? Nope, I don’t think so that is why this Nivea “Skin Firming and Toning Gel” promises an “appearance” of firm skin! Lol. I love it. I’ll take a firm skin appearance for 100 Alex.

And what is a drug store visit without a hair product buy? I have been wanting to try this Pantene Gold Series line and there was no better time to do it than during a buy one get one-half off. I, like most women with curly hair, can never have enough conditioner and Pantene has been a staple of mine since High School. The smell, the slip…amazing. I wore my hair curly all week and that means the detangle game is going to be strong on wash day. I will be trying this conditioner.

February 9, 2017 0

Beat Those Winter Blues: Yoga, Heat, and Jamaica.

Is it just me or does the constant cold weather and limited sunlight during the winter gives you the blues? I live for summertime. The warmth of the sun and the cool feel of the ocean’s breeze. I live in NYC so warm days or hot, balmy nights are only had about two months out of the ENTIRE year. I hold down a J.O.B so I can’t get away as often as I would like in order to soak up some sun. What is a girl to do when the groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter and in reality, it’s cold 10 months out of the year!!!??? You got it, beat the blues right here in the frigid winter.

Here are some ways to beat the blues:

Hot/Bikram Yoga

You don’t have to be a yoga expert to take a hot yoga class but you should be in fairly good health. If you suffer from any conditions it is probably a good idea to check in with your doctor before taking the class. It is not a super strenuous workout but it gets hella hot. I love the heat (not so much the sweat) and this class provides all of the heat and sweat that you may lack in the wintertime. It is also great for relaxation.Savasana and Namaste.

Turn Up the Heat and Invest in Good Lighting

Home is where the heart is and I love going home after a long day to just unwind. I cannot relax if the temperature at home is too low and if my lights don’t set a mood. I love keeping the thermostat at around 75/80 degrees. I slip into a tee shirt and am automatically transported to warm climate in my own home. Also, invest in decent lighting. We have cool lights made by Phillips Hue. You can change the lighting intensity and color.

Just Go Away

If none of those things work…then book a flight to Jamaica! Yeah Mon.That does it every time. I recently watched a really genius video promotion done by Jamaica Tourism and Jetblue for travel to Jamaica. The video really captured life as a commuter in NYC and it was nice to see a little piece of Jamaica set up in the middle of one of the busiest hubs in the city. Let’s face it. Jamaica is always a good idea. Jetblue gave away tickets to Jamaica to 15 lucky commuters. Now they truly have a way to beat the winter blues.

February 3, 2017 2

Consort Tribeca: Contemporary Interiors

We went on a walk through the Tribeca neighborhood in NYC recently and came across the coolest contemporary furniture store we’ve happened upon in a while. My daughter, who is 12-years-old, fell in love with all of the decor and so did I. (FYI, I am marveled by this because we don’t ever agree when it comes to taste in just about anything).

It does not hurt that the salesperson, he really felt like a shopping mate, was informative and super sweet. I think he was from Brooklyn (lol). Let’s take a look at some of the cool furniture we saw at Consort:

Luxe Livingroom