i deserve the worst blogger ever award...(half marathon update)

life has just gotten away from me in the past few weeks.
i'm back at college, and hopefully getting in a more regular routine will encourage me to adhere to my blogging duties.

anyways, quick update on my half marathon progress.
I have actually signed up for a half marathon, a Monster Dash on October 21st. I'm very excited. I'm currently on Week 5 of the program that I've been using, and the progress I'm making seems to be solid.

i will have a few hair related posts coming your way...i got a weave so i will make sure to create a post about that.

product review: garnier fructis curl calm down anti-frizz cream

photo credit: Amazon.com

i tried this product out on a complete whim for two reasons:
1) i am on the hunt this summer for a product with both moisture and hold for my braidouts and twistouts. i want to apply ONE product and be done with it.
2) garnier and I have an on-again, off-again relationship. the music in the commercials gets me every time. then some of the super drying shampoos bring me back to reality. 


cost/availability: $3.99 at Target and most drugstores


smell: all garnier products have this same sweet, slightly fruity smell. most people either love it or hate it. i love it, but it can be overbearing.


how i tested: as the sole product for this braid and curl. 


performance:i was left with dry, crispy hair that had fabulous definition and looked great...but felt like hay.


verdict:this would probably be good underneath a leave-in. all that hold probably just needed a moisturizing leave-in to soften things up. however, i wanted ONE product to provide both moisture and hold. you will not get moisture out of this product.


would i recommend? if you like trying new products and are just looking for something with hold, this is worth a shot. it doesn't cost much, and can easily be returned. 


would i repurchase? no, i would not. i returned it the next day. it didn't fulfill what i was looking for it to accomplish, so i don't have time to waste trying to fool around and make it work for me. 

product review: shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie

photo credit: Amazon.com

everybody and they mama seems to have used this product. i decided to try it out. I am in search of a "one-stop shop" product that will provide both moisture and hold to my out styles. I decided to try this one out. 


cost/availability: $9.99 at Target. it's also at walgreens.


smell: *insert rihanna voice* vanilla cakecakecakecake!! seriously delicious.


how i tested: after cowashing, i used it as the sole leave-in/styler for a braidout. i also used it in conjunction with my wrap foam for a braidout on a different occasion. i also used it as a leave-in underneath ecostyler clear gel for a wash-and-go puff. lastly, as the sole product for a twist n'curl


performance:
as a sole product for a braidout-instant poof! it was a very humid day that day i suppose, because i could feel my hair reverting to a fro AS I WAS UNRAVELING THE BRAIDS. 


with wrap foam for a braidout-a little more hold than without the wrap foam, but the 2 products didn't mix too well. it felt a little filmy.


as a leave-in for a wash and go puff, along with ecostyler-i suppose my hair was left with enough moisture. but the residue! oh lawd the residue! perhaps i'm heavy-handed, but i really felt it didn't absorb into my hair well. 


as the sole product for a twist n'curl-i had moisture and definition....until the humidity hit me. it seems as though this product encourages my hair to just absorb all the moisture in the air.


verdict: this product will provide moisture. lots of it. but the holding properties will vanish at the slightest drop of moisture in the air. you also will need to be careful of using too much, as it doesn't absorb well. due to these properties, it is useful for moisturizing my hair when i am wearing it in an updo or bun style, as it will retain the moisture and i will not have to worry about the humectant (drawing moisture from the air) properties. 5/10


would i recommend? would i re-purchase? YES-if you are looking for moisture alone, NO-if you want a product with moisture AND hold. 
NO, i wouldn't repurchase-i have no use for a product with just moisture and no hold in my regimen. i already have staple moisturizers. 

easy summer hair: bantu knots

i just love these so much.
i get three reactions wearing them:
some people:"omg, i love them, how'd you do that?"
kids: "do you have snails in your head?" lmao.
other people: *blank stare, attempting to figure it all out*


meh, i'm very unconcerned.
i'm way past the stage of caring too much what other people choose to make of my hair choices.

i can do and have done them neater, but these are working for right now.

random hair snap

this was from my spring break trip to ny.
i started out with flat ironed hair, which quickly got poofy.
so i did various things, and utilized this hat that i got at the massive forever 21 in times square.

side braid.

i can't wait till my braid is longer and way more fly. 

ootd throwback: NY trip

the boyfriend and I took a trip to NY back in march.
i found these and thought we were cute. 

his outfit: all polo everything (insert eyeroll), he's so loyal lol

mine: skirt-gap, sweater-old navy, tank-forever 21, bag-mommy got it from mexico

hair: very old flat-ironed hair in a bantu-knot out

snacks: the happy "lotus garden" snack

i call this my "happy lotus garden" snack.


to explain: yogurt is known for being a great food for women to ingest to prevent yeast infections. if you are prone to them, make plain yogurt a part of your diet.


pineapple is known to make those lady parts have a...ahem..."sweeter taste," if you will.


the strawberries? I just really like the combo of pineapples and strawberries.

it's quick, easy, healthy, and filling. toss some roasted almonds  or some granola on top for some crunch.