Beauty is as Beauty does

I haven't blogged in a while, I haven't felt inspired to do so. In the last 8 months some very life altering life changing,  and straight up shake up has happened in my life. As I search for deeper meaning for it or at the very least acceptance I still find one thing to be grateful about and  find beauty in some of the ashes daily. My daughter inspires me because she is brave,smart, a trendsetter and has a inner beauty and self esteem that I still hope for. She said "what am I going to do when I come out if my braids" I said "how about box braids she says "no"! I say"I have no idea then". She says I think I will just wear it natural. I was like okay I support that, being the super duper product queen that I am. I immediately logged on to my account at Oyin Handmade, I've had a love affair with them since about 2000. So I ordered her her personal hair kit. I didn't know how her hair would respond since I haven't done her hair in its natural state since she was about 8. Then, it was simple Carol's Daughter Healthy Hair butter and Hair Milk I had been using both of these products on Maia's hair since she was about two. So we drove over to University Ave in St Paul, MN to random braid place to remove the braids. I clarified her hair with my own mix(my special recipe) deep conditioned with Miss Jessie's Rapid Recovery Treatment and flat twisted her hair with Bee Mine Juicy and Burnt Sugar pomade . The thing I learned is that Maia feels beautiful no matter how she wears her hair which is deeply inspiring to me. For her its not about the style or choosing between natural and relaxed its about feeling good about yourself no matter what your style choice is. Lesson learned from the flyest 14 year old that I know.

Maia's Mix
Bee Mine Juicy www.beemine.com
Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade www.oyinhandmade.com

See Spot Run

For years I have struggled with hyper- pigmentation its been a constant battle for me even if I don't pick at a pimple. Just to share I recently picked up a serum from the Kiehls store the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. This has been a life saver for me for more information www.kiehls.com

Kiehl's

That's Me Going into the store. Pure Joy!

I just love Kiehl's Products, I keep coming back to them no matter what. My sister looked at me like I was a stone cold freak because I become extremely excited too excited to see the flagship store at the Mall of America. 

My picks if you haven't tried Kiehl's products, the Midnight Recovery eye cream. It works plain and simple and a very little bit goes a long way. Creme de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Whipped Body Butter Absolutely luxurious and smells heavenly this is my favorite winter time butter. 

If your not in the Twin City area go to www.kiehls.com If your in the Twin City area these products can be found at The Garden of Eden on Grand Ave. in St. Paul, Nordstrom's and of course the Kiehls store Mall of America.

Iconic Beauty

There is only one way to describe Peggy and that she is beautiful in every sense of the word. I have loved and admired her most of my life, and the best thing is that she looks like me. I know most women look to magazines and TV for images of beauty but I found beautiful  images of women to immolate and admire in my church up-close and personal. I know that I base some of my personal style and flare from all of them. For instance,  my stilettos Auntie Lynda, Unique outfit and panache Peggy, and hair Suge. One I haven't quite mastered is Miss Crum's hat game I'm still working on that one.  One of my most fondest memories of Peggy is that one Saturday when I was a little girl, the area baptist churches were having a community softball game. This was back in the day when it didn't matter what church you belong to we all knew each other and fellowshiped together. This particular Saturday my church  New Hope Baptist church was playing a game against Mont Olivet. A friend and I were playing against the wall that led out to the baseball diamond. Peggy rolls up on her bike as usual she is sporting a wide smile and she stopped to talk to us. I remember her getting ready to play and locking her up her bike and then she pulls out this thick red tube that said Bonnie Bell Lipsmaker and it has two big strawberries on it. I said" I didn't  know grown women wore lip gloss" and she said "yes they do".  From that point on I had to have one. I would not let up on begging my mom for one. So finally, she bought me bonnie bell lip smacker tin  that slid to open with the two flavors. I was too thrilled to have one and I have never been without a lip gloss,stick, or balm since. Another  thing that stand out in my mind about Peggy is her warm and kind spirit .  She has a beauty that radiates from the inside out and spills out when she speaks. One Sunday she read the poem Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson to this day it stays within my heart and soul, because you can tell the poem meant something to her. You could see and feel that this was not just a poem to her. It was one of those moments where you wanted to know and serve the God she served. Especially when she got to the part "During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you". Peggy reading that poem in that way I know for sure goes down in our church history finer moments and history. Peggy is iconic to because her beauty never fades, her inner beauty can be seen, and her just being Peggy my greatest beauty icon of all time.

She shared with me her beauty regimen and her it is below in her own words.

 I can not say that I do anything out-of-the-ordinary.  I can say, however, that I love the Lord and His Love which He poured into me I love sharing with others.  I really do want to be a vessel that is fit for the Lord's use!  I give Him the praise, the glory and the honor for His Spirit of LOVE! And I believe that it is His Spirit which you see shining through me ... you call it beauty!  I know that it is His spirit within me.

You might also know that I am a positive individual who looks for the good in every situation and believe that “all things are working together for good”  because of my love for the Lord.

Thirdly, the Lord has given me a desire to be physically fit and it is routine for me to exercise on a regular basis.  I can remember back as early as when I was approximately 5 years old that I had this desire to be physically fit.  And I would do that by running, jumping rope, jumping jacks, sit-ups, and other forms of exercise.  I continue that desire for a temple which is fit - both spiritually and physically - for the Lord's use.  I know that physical exercise has value (yes, it is a good thing!), but spiritual exercise (reading my Word, praying, attending church regularly, etc.) is much more important, for it promises a reward both in this life and in eternity.  I try to maintain that balance.

Lastly, I will reiterate that (what you call beauty) that you see in me does not come from my makeup, my short hairstyle, my high cheekbones, my physical stature, or looking good in a beautiful outfit.  Rather it radiates from the inside out, from a heart that loves the Lord!  "It is in Him that I live, move and have my being"!