Hair Repair 101

Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in a long, long, time and I'm so sorry! I promise I haven't forgotten about this blog!

Let's get right back to it!

Recently, I got purple streaks put in my hair. I love them, but the fact that my hairdresser had to bleach my hair first means that my hair is FRIED. Like, I haven't even had it this bad before.

It's been almost two weeks, and I've made a lot of progress. I still need to be really careful and persistent with the treatments, but my hair feels a little bit less straw-like and breakable.

It kills me, because my natural hair is actually really healthy, and I totally messed it up! It is going to take forever for the broken strands to grow back, too. :(

But I'm gonna take extra good care of my hair, and I'll let you in on my tips!!!

1. I've talked about this product line before, but I'll bring it up again. I literally swear by it; it's the L'Oreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. I use all three every day, and ever since I started using that line about a year ago, I have noticed a huge difference in the smoothness and elasticity of my hair. I still have a lot of coarse hair, but it is much less unruly than it was with any other hair products, and trust me, I've tried a lot.

2. Coconut Oil is the next best thing I have found for my hair. I started using it about a month or so ago, and I immediately noticed my hair feeling softer and healthier. What I do is scoop a lot out of the jar, turn upside-down, and smooth the oil down the length of my hair from my scalp towards the ends. After that is saturated, I'll smooth some over the top layer of my hair, focusing on the ends, and the roots of my hair at the back of my head. These are my problem areas, so obvious you should cater the process to fit your hair. I put my hair up into a top bun with a clip, put a shower cap on, and leave it for an hour. You can use a hair dryer to really help the oil to absorb--blast your hair, with the shower cap on, for about 10 minutes.

When you wash it out, you will notice that there is some residue. You can shampoo again, but if you don't need to look particularly nice, I would leave it in. I promise it won't look as greasy as you think! Condition like normal, and when you hair dries I promise you'll be stunned! I do this about twice a week.

3. Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil. This deep conditioning treatment is a newer addition to my routine, and I use it every other day on the days I don't use coconut oil. After you wet your hair, you smooth it into your hair and leave it for 5 minutes (while you shave, for example), and rinse. It also makes your hair feel soft and luminous!

4. Heat Protection. So, as weird as it sound, straightening my hair actually makes it look less fried. Since my strands are such different lengths now, it looks better when they are all going in the same direction, which they don't do naturally. So, in order to keep my hair from getting fried again, I use two main products to beat the heat: Organix Extra Strength Moroccan Argan Oil and Got2B Guardian Angel Flat Iron Balm. The oil is seriously amazing for giving your hair movement and shine, and the "balm" (its a spray) is new to me, but seems to really protect my hair from damage.

5. Vitamins! Okay, you've most likely heard of Biotin before. Biotin is a vitamin that is most commonly used to support hair and nail growth. I know it works, because I have tried it multiple times, but it also makes me break out every time I try it. So, that isn't really an option for me, but a simple multivitamin can still give your skin, nails, and hair the vitamins and minerals they need.

6. Water is so important! I know you've heard it a million times, but it is so, so true that drinking lots of water helps you in so many ways. As far as your hair goes, it just increases it's general health, helping it to grow in stronger and healthier than before.  It also helps me to feel focused, more energetic, and also it clears up your skin!

Today's Fitness Motivation

The word of the day is:

There is no point in getting fit if you aren't going to be consistent! You can do a super intense workout once every two weeks and I promise you you won't see significant results. You have got to aim high!

You can do it!

xoxo,

Things I've Learned...

Well hello there!

As you probably know, I have just recently started college. Already, I am learning so much--not just academics (in fact, those have yet to really pick up), but about...oh, I don't know...SURVIVAL.

The last post I did was all about staying healthy in college. Well, I have a confession.

I'm sick.

Like, really sick, and I have been for a least a week. Everyone else has gotten the same cold, but mine has REFUSED to get better. Usually, I am not sick for more than two or three days when I have a cold. But I know why this time is different.

I didn't follow my own advice!

I've been eating so badly--lots of sugar. SO MUCH SUGAR. And, you might also know that I'm gluten intolerant, and yet I have been eating gluten out the wazoo since getting here. As a result, my feet stink (yeah, it happens when you eat gluten if you are intolerant), my appetite is off, and I'm sick as a dog.

So, seriously, heed my warning: eat well in college or you will regret it! Seriously. So seriously.

Seriously.

Anyways, now that I am sick, I am using this as a "teachable moment" as my mother says. I have stopped the gluten intake (or at least I'm trying to), I bought a $30 humidifier for my dorm (so cool--it uses water bottles! Go to CVS and get one. Now.), and I'm really focusing on giving my body what it needs.

Please use my misfortune as an opportunity to avoid this wretched state. I'm going to be sick at a concert tonight (Roscoe Dash and the Ying Yang Twins!), for the first football game of the season, and for visiting my friends back home on Sunday. Yeah, it sucks. Don't do what I did.

Make good choices!

The New S&S! Also Some College Tips.

Hey everyone! As I mentioned in a previous post, Sparkle 'n Spice is undergoing some changes-- a re-vamping, if you will. My life is changing, and I think it is only fitting that the blog changes with me. My posts will probably be geared a lot more towards college life from here on out, but I'll still keep the same idea of the blog--to provide a place for young women to go to get inspired and feel good about themselves.

So anyways, here is the first post of the new and improved S&S!

It is not even close to being a secret that college students aren't the healthiest of people. I mean, I've met a few who have managed to eat well so far, but personally, I have eaten pretty shadily since moving into my dorm. Whether it is because I am too lazy to go to the dining halls or because I am eating junk food just because I don't have as much access to healthy foods, the result is the same--a lot of carbs and sugar and not a lot of fruits and veggies.

Now, I am not saying that you should try to eat only bunny food, or even that you should completely banish all sweet treats. I am, however, going to give you guys some tips to stay as healthy as possible without having to obsess over your food intake in college.

1. WATER. I know that I've mentioned this before, but water is SO IMPORTANT if you want to get/stay healthy. Your body is over 60% water--your blood is around 90% water and your muscles (brain included!!!) are about 75% water. So, while you are eating all those nasty delicious foods, make sure that you are drinking plenty of water to flush the toxins and such out of your system. As a plus, you will feel more alert and your skin will be clearer and brighter.

2. WALK. This depends on which campus you are on, but most colleges are walk-able. Don't drive to your classes, don't take a bus...Walk! It's revitalizing and it is an easy way to burn calories and tone up.

3. CHILL OUT. I know everyone reacts differently to stress, but I tend to eat whatever I can get my hands on when I am overwhelmed rather than focusing on what I need to do and solving any issues. If you are the same way, relax! Meditation can help a lot, as well as listening to calming music. Also, I know that there are infinite social opportunities in college, but once in a while, stay in your room! Eat dinner, then go back to your dorm, shower, put some PJs on, and just relax! Watch some TV, have a little dance party with yourself...whatever you need!

4. STOCK UP. It is so tempting when you go shopping for your dorm to buy popcorn, candy and soda, but resist! Okay, obviously you can buy some--live a little! But also buy some easy-to-prepare fruits and veggies like pre-cut carrots and apples, just so that when you feel like eating well, you actually can!

More tips to come!

Stay healthy!

Feel Better!

Hey guys! I’m feeling a little under the weather this week, and it has gotten me thinking about what I can do to get well. I have a few go-to practices that I do when I’m sick, and I thought I’d share them with you!

Clean Sheets/Towels: Germs LOVE sheets and towels. So, as soon as you start to feel better, change them out for clean ones! Otherwise, you will keep dousing yourself in the old, nasty germs and it will take you much longer to get better.

NeilMed: NeilMed is a lot like Neti Pots, but it is a little squirt bottle that you fill up with water that has been boiled (so that it is pathogen-free) and add a packet of what is basically salt. After you shake it up, you open your mouth wide, squirt it up one nostril, and BAM! All the nasty comes out the other. If you are squeamish, it may take some getting used to, but this thing is a miracle worker. If I was stranded on an island, this would be one of the things I made sure I had with me. I’ve noticed that, other than the whole cleaning-out-your-sinuses thing, the NeilMed also makes my skin look a TON better. I swear it! At first I was like, “there is no way” but every time I use it after not having used it for a while, I notice an improvement. When I am sick, I use it at least two times a day. I recommend doing it once a day when you are healthy.

Emergen-C Packets: These things are pretty popular, so you probably have heard of them. In case you haven’t, though, they are little packets full of powdered vitamins and minerals. You pour the contents into a glass of water, stir, and drink up! The second you start to feel sick, do this. It can keep any colds or sicknesses at bay!

Facials: I admit, I don’t do this one nearly as much as I should. No, it isn’t actually a facial, but it is similar. When my sinuses are super, super clogged, I fill a bowl with boiling water, lean over it, and put a towel around my head and the bowl so no steam will escape. This encourages mucus to leave your sinuses. Be prepared to blow your nose a lot afterwards! I recommend sitting over the bowl for 5 to 10 minutes.

Sweat it Out: This one is something I learned from my mama. She always told me that working out when you are sick can really help you feel better. It is the same principle of a sauna—you are sweating out toxins. In addition, I believe that getting your heart rate up loosens up any congestion you have and revives your immune system. Also, the increased oxygen levels in your blood due to rapid breathing increases cell turnover, meaning that your body can heal faster. Don’t do it if you are super sick and might pass out, but if you can, go for a walk or a jog next time you have a cold and you’ll notice a difference!

But what about new things? I started thinking about how my diet affects my health. We all know the truth behind “you are what you eat”, but I always liked to think that I was doing okay. I shined a light on what I eat, though, and it isn’t as healthy as I had thought.

The amount of processed food that I eat is horrendous. Even though most of what I eat is organic, the fact that at least half of it comes in a wrapper makes me feel like I am not giving my body what it needs. For lunch on weekends, it is so easy to grab a bar and a yogurt rather than actually preparing a meal. So, that is going to change. Today for lunch, for example, I will make myself a super-healthy smoothie. J

Another factor in my diet that is leading to my blah-ness is the amount of refined sugar and carbohydrates that I eat. My favorite snacks are chocolate and some sort of seemingly-healthy multigrain chips. Yeah, in comparison, I could be eating funnel cake and Doritos, but I know that I can do better. So, I am not making any ultimatums or promises, but I am going to make a strong effort to not eat those things if I can.

That’s all that I’ve got for now, but I’ll keep you posted! What are your go-to methods of staying/getting healthy?

xoxo

Create Yourself!

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - G. Bernard Shaw

I found this quote on a website called thehealthypush.com. Go check it out! It's got recipes, workouts, inspiration...anything you need to get healthy.

Anyways, I really like the message. We always hear about people who have "lost themselves" or have identity crises. I don't doubt that those are legitimate phases of our lives, but I like the idea of creating yourself throughout your life-- picking up attributes here and there, dropping them as you need. I picture it as sort of sculpting yourself. We start out as a blob of clay or a slab of marble, and throughout our lifetimes we chisel away at ourselves until we are left with a person that we can truly love and respect--ourselves. It doesn't matter if other people feel the same way, because this sculpture is just for you.

While you are inspired, go listen to "We Are Young ft. Janelle Monae" by Fun. It makes me want to live my life! No regrets. :)

Let me know how you take this quote!

xoxo

21-Day Challenge Update

Hey there!

As you know, I've been trying to not eat chocolate for 21 days. Well, when I made that plan, I forgot about Valentines Day.

I held off for most of the day, but then I got to convincing myself that Valentines Day should be an exception! It's (in my opinion) a day for treating yourself. Like Halloween.

So, I loaded up on chocolate in preparation for the long haul ahead of me. And let me tell you, it wasn't good.

I hadn't realized how much better I had been feeling until I ate chocolate again. It had only been 5 days, but I swear that I felt better. My sleep patterns were healthier, and my food choices in general were just better. Sure, I was eating a ton in an attempt to satisfy my chocolate craving, but the amount of sugar I was consuming had gone down significantly. My skin was clearing up, and I just felt...right.

Anyways, now I realize how nice it felt to not be eating chocolate, and I can't wait to start fresh today. I have recently read some articles on how bad sugar is for you, and it's really starting to scare me! Since chocolate is my main source of sugar, cutting it out should really help my health.

Feel free to join me in this challenge! Who knows, it might go longer than 21 days!

xoxo

P.S: I'd like to take a second to wish my big sister a happy, happy birthday! Love you Lillie!

21-Day Challenge

Hello!

They say that it takes 21 days to break a habit. Well, I'm going to apply this rule to addictions. A food addiction, to be specific. It's chocolate.

Guys, chocolate is my vice. I can't resist it. It calls out to me and I give in. Next thing you now, I'm passed out on the coach from a sugar crash and wake up with a stomach ache three hours later.

Yeah. It's bad.

So, here's my plan to break this habit: I'm going to go 21 days with no chocolate. Not a drop. Not even chocolate milk. Anything with cocoa in it is OUT. And hopefully, on March 1, I will be cured! Of course, I am sure that I will still love chocolate. But maybe it won't be such a problem. :)

First thing tomorrow (it's too late for me today...whoops), I am chocolate-free, people. I'll keep you posted about the whole gritty process--the detox, the withdrawals, the hallucinations...Okay, those are all exaggerations. I hope...

xoxo

Something to think about...

xoxo

Looks Aren't Everything...

Time for my first baking post!

Today, I made some super-healthy, super-satisfying breakfast muffins. They may be ugly, but I don't think you'll find a healthier, more tasty muffin recipe anywhere. I used King Arthur Gluten Free flour, since I can't eat gluten, and no refined sugar! I personally like the taste of stevia, but to some people, it is a bit bitter. I think it is an acquired taste, so if you are looking for a way to consume less sugar, give stevia a shot! These muffins are full of vitamins and minerals from the banana and carrots (folic acid, potassium, and beta carotene to name a few), not to mention omega-3 fatty acids from the flax and antioxidants from the agave. Plus, cinnamon is thought to be an anti-inflammatory spice. So, enjoy! These tasty treats are about as guilt-free as you can get.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

2 tbsp. blue agave

1 4 oz. container Trader Joes Vanilla and Cream Yogurt

1 ripe banana

1/2 c all-purpose flour

1/2 c vanilla soy milk

1/2 c raisins

5 peeled, chopped carrots

1 tbsp. Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa

2 tbsp. ground flaxseed

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. stevia

1/2 c Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Quick-Cooking Oats

First, preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix all the ingredients together in the order they are in above. As for the banana, make sure it is REALLY ripe. Almost rotten. Then, mash it up with a fork in the bowl with the other ingredients or separately, putting it in already mashed.

As for the flax, I learned that you body does not benefit from it as much if you eat it in it's whole form--that's why I grind it up with a coffee grinder and store it in my fridge. 

Grease a muffin pan with coconut oil--you heard me. What I do is get a spoonful of it (it is solid), get a chunk on my (clean!) fingers, and squish it around inside each well of the pan, getting more from the spoon as needed.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until you can stick a knife in a muffin (again, the goal here is not to have pretty muffins) and it comes out mostly clean.

Makes 12 small/thin muffins.

The ingredients!

This is how finely I chopped the carrots--you can see that it's not big chunks, but it's not super-fine either. I like having some crunch in my muffins!

This is the coconut oil I use to grease the muffin tin.

 The batter! I know, doesn't look super appealing...

...and the dishes. Every rose has it's thorn, right?

I hope you enjoy! I recommend warming these up in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before eating them. They are super-comforting warm!

xoxo

Things I'm Loving...

I, like all of us, go through phases of obsession with certain things--people, products, clothes, etc. Okay, maybe obsession is a bit of a strong word. But I really, really like these things:

1. Blue Sky Free Stevia Soda

Everyone always talks about how bad soda is for you. And, for the most part, that hasn't been a problem for me because I am not a big soda-drinker. But I do love root beer. Yet every time I drink it, all I can think about it how often people have told me how unhealthy it is! That's why I love this stevia-sweetened soda. It tastes just like normal root beer, but it is calorie-free and sweetened with stevia, which is all natural!

2. Go Raw Spirulina Super Chips

Okay, truth of the matter is that my friends and family don't find these spirulina chips nearly as tasty as I do. But, since this post is for things that I'M loving, I'm going to tell you guys about it. These are sweet and still healthy--spirulina is supposedly great for detoxifying your body and full of antioxidants. A great snack!

3. Once Upon a Time

Okay. If I could talk about this show as much as I wanted to, this whole blog would be dedicated to it. Basically, I love fantasy and I love mysteries/crime dramas. This show combines both! I absolutely LOVE it. There are some great love stories, but it isn't solely focused on romance. It's still suspenseful and exciting! It comes on ABC on Sunday nights at 8:00 EST.

4. My new ear cuff from VintageMadeByDucky!

This is the ear cuff I mentioned the other day! Isn't it cute? It's simple but still a little edgy/gypsy. I wore it today and got TONS of compliments! 

5. Antonia Thomas

This actress, who stars as Alisha in the UK's hit show Misfits, is simply stunning to me. She has a unique style that I adore, not to mention that I'm addicted to her show. And her hair as Alisha is awesome! I've even considered cutting mine short and letting it do it's thing because of her--but then I thought better of it :)

I hope you like all of these things as much as I do! xoxo

Pre-Lunchtime Check-In

Hey guys!

So, I'm trying to eat super healthy today. I'm going to eat lunch soon, and I am starving! My breakfast did NOT hold me over like it usually does. I made myself some kale chips (picture below) and plan to eat some carrots, celery, and maybe a pear. And, yes, I'll be drinking water.

Anyways, that's all boring stuff. I got an order from Etsy yesterday, and I can't wait to show it to you! I've got an outfit post coming soon, so I'll show you what I got then. It's an ear cuff from VintageMadeByDucky, and I LOVE it! I also got an awesome bumper sticker from ajcustomvinyldecals, I'll be sure to show you that soon. It raises my geek factor quite a bit :)