Things I'm Loving (December/January Edition)

These past few weeks leading up to my tapering (only 18 days until the marathon!) have been hectic! I haven't written a decent blog post in a couple of weeks and I apologize! I have SO MUCH to catch you all up on such as:

1. My tapering schedule
2. February goals
3. My last long run update
4. Plus tons of debate/discussion topics!

But first things first. Here is a list of some of my December/January favorite things.

I tried to take a picture with my camera but it didn't come out so well. It's nutritional yeast, and I LOVE this stuff! I put it on everything! It's also rich in B vitamins, especially B12, which you can normally only find in meat.

Here's a better photo. We buy ours from Whole Foods in the bulk section where you buy nuts etc. It is ridiculously cheap. It's supposed to be a substitute of cheese. In a previous foodie Wish List post I mentioned I wanted a food processor. One of the reasons is to make cheese sauces with this stuff. But it is absolutely delicious as a topping.

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This is also another product rich in vitamins and minerals. I like to add it to oatmeal, smoothies, stir fries...anything really. I haven't had much time to experiment yet, but it is incredibly versatile. It is high in Omega 3's, which are great for the heart, and usually found in salmon, walnuts and sardines.

I know I've mentioned these delicious cookies before, but they are worth mentioning again! They are that good. Please get some.

These energy beans are a life-saver. I still haven't mastered the skill of fueling while running. I get incredible stomach aches if I eat or drink before running. These beans are great because they give me necessary energy and fluids lost while running. I've tried every flavor I could find. My favorite is Berry (the purple package).

This is my handy backpack that I use when I go to the gym after work. It fits everything I need. I like it better than those one shoulder bags. I've used this almost everyday for the past two months.

OK, so these aren't the exact fig bars I love. Like the greedy person that I am, I ate them all before I could take a picture! So this photo I grabbed online just to do this post. Since I haven't had time to replenish the stash. I bought them from Whole Foods. They are also located in the bulk nuts section. THEY ARE SO DELICIOUS AND VEGAN! I mean I can eat a whole bag by myself in a few days. The bars at Whole Foods are more substantial than the ones featured in this picture. They are so good.

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The next two photos are Christmas presents from my mom. She was sick of me wearing the same gear all the time to do my runs! So she bought me these shirts from the Nike store, which are actually really cute.

I think every runner needs a cute t-shirt, headband, hat...whatever. It really is inspiring for those long runs.

One thing I failed to take a picture of, but am also loving this month, are running socks!

I don't even remember the brand but I got them from Fleet Feet. I was never, ever, concerned about socks. But I've worn them about 3 times already and my feet know the difference when I don't wear them. Seriously, be kind to your feet and wear the correct socks for your sport! I've seen cycling socks and even yoga socks!

What are some things you've been loving this month?

Week 33 Hair

This is one of the styles I rocked last week. I'm trying to wear more updos just for variety. Typically I wear my twists in a bun during the week. I was getting tired of that. I do it because it is SIMPLE and absolutely NO FUSS WHATSOEVER. But I decided to be adventerous and do something different!

This pic was taken on Friday. That's why the twists are frizzy.

The style below is one I made up on the fly this morning! I was extremely happy with the results. These are chunky twists. I prepped my hair yesterday for the twists I am going to do today. Instead of braiding my hair like I have done for the past two weeks before installing my dry twists, I decided to simply twist. 

My hair is so curly that when I braid it wet it gets really defined. That's great if I want to rock a braidout. But annoying when I try to smooth my hair out for twists. I hope that makes sense. 

Basically these are just chunky twists overlapped and pinned. It took me 5 minutes (or less). I also glammed it up with a flower. I would've preferred a cute headband though.

This weekend before I shampooed (on Saturday) I took down my twists. I really wanted to separate them well this time to speed up the detangling process. Luckily detangling doesn't take me long anyway. 

While I was taking them down I decided to do a bit of grooming. I started snipping off those "fairy knots" or "single strand knots" that we naturals are plagued with. 

Normally I leave them alone. But I had nothing else to do so I decided to be productive. It was not exactly a trim because I, literally, just snipped the knot off each strand. I know I didn't get them all but it took me 3 hours to do my entire head. 

My hair feels great now and it was SUPER DUPER EASY to detangle. I can't commit to a next time because it was really time consuming. Maybe before I do a protein treatment (I did one yesterday)? Don't quote me on that though! 

The following are pics of my hair after the snipping.

As for other hair-related news: I finally bought some jojoba oil. I've been wanting some since I started my HHCJ in May. I bought mine at Trader Joes for $7. Yes, it's expensive, but I only use it in my kimmaytube leave in mixture. It will last me awhile. 

Other than that business as usual with the hair. I will install the dry twists today and keep them in until Friday. Last week I retwisted the perimeter of my hair and kept them in all week. Usually I take them down at the end of day on Thursday. But I kept them in until Saturday and they looked decent. I'm definitely content with my hair.

Week 34 Hair

Detangle with conditioner

Shampoo

Deep condition

Kimmaytube leave in

Twists

Weekly Recipe: Salmorejo

Yes, it's another Spanish favorite! Chema has been making Spanish goodies for my fam since we got back to the States. He cooks, I post, perfect! So look for more recipes each week!

Toppings: olive oil, tuna, hardboiled eggs

Toppings: olive oil, jamón ibérico, hardboiled eggs

Salmorejo

6 large tomatoes (feeds 6 generously)

1 large clove garlic

1 loaf french bread (we used 1.5 mini loaves)

Water

3-4 Tbsp. vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

Salt to taste

Hardboiled eggs (we used 5)

1 can tuna

Jamón Ibérico 

Ideally, you want to make this using stale bread. In that case you want to soak it in water to make it soft. If it's not stale you can just take out the insides and add them right to the blender. Peel the tomatoes (that's right, no skin), cut them in pieces and add them to the blender. Add the garlic and vinegar to the blender and then blend. Add the olive oil slowly, as you blend, to the mixture. Once the mixture is smooth, poor it into a tupperware container and refrigerate until cold. Once it's cold you serve it topped with hardboiled eggs, tuna and/or jamón ibérico, as well as a nice drizzle of olive oil. Delicious!

We found jamón ibérico in Trader Joe's, but you can always make it without it. Although, that is the traditional way to have it. Even my niece, who's 8, tried it. She ate all the toppings off it...that's it.

Things I'm Loving (September Edition)

So I've decided to introduce a new idea to the blog: monthly loves. 

I plan to add all types of new things I've tried and like for the given month.

No, I didn't invent the idea. I know. But I figured it would be a nice change from marathon training updates, hair updates, and fitness stuff. 

Plus, it helps me stick to my budget. There's always tons of non-necessity things that I want to buy every time I go to the supermarket. Limiting myself to a few new things a month will keep me in check....hopefully.

September's edition starts with FOOD!

When I was in Spain I had been CRAVING this like crazy! I wanted some cashew butter as well but haven't found it yet. I need to locate a Whole Foods near where I live because Trader Joe's (at least the one near me) only has almond butter and peanut butter (yucky!). 

 

These have to be the sweetest and softest raisins I have ever eaten in my life. I think it's because it doesn't have vegetable oil added to it. If you notice, most raisins have it because it makes them shiny and so they don't stick together in the package. These don't!

I love shredded wheat! This stuff is great and I've tried the other two flavors in my grocery store (cinnamon and vanilla). As you all know Kashi is great when it comes to all-natural ingredients. This cereal has only whole wheat and cane sugar in it. This is my power breakfast when I add some fruit and nuts.

These are SO delicious! They are easy, portable, sweet potato patties! It hits the spot when I want something sweet and still want to be healthy. There's only 8g of sugar per patty. I usually eat about two.

This is some dense bread. I only need to eat one piece to get full. Each slice is only 100 calories (not that I count calories) and is nice and thick. When I have lunch I like to have salty and sweet. So I cut a slice in half. The first half I spread with almond butter, sprinkle with some raisins and a drizzle of honey. The second half I eat with some cheese, and non fat turkey slices. Or, like today, with one of my veggie hotdogs (see below).

Here's a close up of this delish bread. I'm a bit nervous about the salt content so I'll probably try something else when it runs out.

This was my try veggie meat experiement. I've tried sausages before (don't remember the brand) and they were delicious. These smell horrible. Like chemicals. However, I got past the scent and tried them and they aren't bad. I'd buy them again. They are really chewy but taste faintly like smoked meat. These are small so if you want to make it a meal you'd have to eat two and a side dish!

I had to get my tea fix! I LOVE tea! I don't discriminate: I love white, black and green tea. I prefer loose tea but these tea bags aren't bad. It tastes fresh and like authentic green tea. I've been drinking it three times a day since I got it!

That's it. I've also been enjoying some old favorites like cottage cheese (non fat of course!), apple cider (I love the fall!) and greek yogurt (also non fat). I also found a wonderful farmer's market not too far from where I live. It sells wonderful, fresh fruit and veggies as well as nuts and plants. The next time I go I give a tour for the blog. But I'm loving it! I wonder what's in store for next month...

Oops! Almost forgot! Pecans we got from the friendly, local, farmer's market! They are nice and freshly picked tasting. Gotta love the farmer's market.
 

Week 15 Hair

Adapting to new surroundings is not only hard on the mind and body, but also on the hair!

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Last week I had to use my Bear Fruit Hair leave in conditioner because I didn't have a chance to pick up aloe vera juice for my kimmaytube leave in. (It sucked) That kimmaytube leave in works like magic.

Although I do really like Bear Fruit Hair products. At least the ones I've tried are amazing.  The Desert Moisture leave in and the Banana and Avocado deep conditioner are incredible. I will probably try something else once I finish with them but I would definitely buy them again.

I'm almost out of the deep conditioner actually and have no idea what product to try out next.

So all suggestions are welcome. 

I'm thinking of purchasing a Giovanni product online. I love their light moisture conditioner as part of my kimmaytube leave in.

Anyway, I bought some aloe vera juice last week and made my mixture yesterday. That all went smoothly.  

What didn't was the entire hair washing procedure. 

Since I had already showered I didn't want to get in again just to wash my hair. Instead I had to lean over the tub. We have a super tall tub and it doesn't have one of those removal shower heads I've grown to cherish in Spain.

So that made washing annoying. I had to detangle at the sink, which was messy. It also took me twice as long. From now on I'll just have to get in the shower.

A good thing is that my mom has one of those hair dryers. I've been wanting to use one since I started my HHCJ. This weekend I'm going to buy a protein treatment from my local beauty supply store and sit under the dryer for 30 minutes or so. I plan to do this every week for a month. After that, if I see results, I will continue to do it twice a month.

I'm not experiencing breakage but I haven't been incorporating protein into my routine. There has to be a balance of protein and moisture and to date there has only been moisture.

My twists are in now and I hope to stretch them until Friday like I did last week. I did one of my updo styles on Friday for work and also on Saturday since I went out.

Almost forgot...

I changed my shampoo and conditioner. I had to leave them in Spain when I moved so I purchased the Trader Joe´s Tea Tree shampoo and a Suave conditioner as my detangler.

They are ok but once I finish them I will probably try something different. I do, however, like the Trader Joe´s Nourish Spa conditioner as a detangler. It is so nice and creamy. That will be purchased again.

That's all for now folks.

Week 16 Hair 

• Shampoo
• Detangle with conditioner
• Deep condition
• Kimmaytube leave in
• Twists

Hair Regimen Part 1: journey and products

Shampoo. leave ins, and regular conditioners: I have yet to try the VO5, the Suave or the Trader Joe's nourish spa.

Moisturizers: The water bottle has plain, tap water in it. I haven't tried the Qhemet Biologic's product yet.

Oils: My shea butter cream is in the circle container and the two little bottles are my essential oils, rosemary and orange.

Styling products: Scissors to trim, bobby pins, gel, hair clips and the pH testing strips.

The (condensed) Beginning

Before starting college, I put braids in my hair. I didn't know when I would get my next relaxer. In a new state, a new city, living on campus, perhaps there was nowhere to buy a relaxer or get one put in. Of course then I didn't know the term "transitioning", but that's what I was doing. I transitioned until about March of 2003, exclusively in braids. 

After my hair was cut I wore twists mostly, since that's all I knew how to do. I wasn't creative when my hair was straight and I suppose I was less so with it natural. When I was sick of twists I'd ask someone to put it in braids and I'd wear them for as long as I was able. Sometimes even a puff if I felt adventurous.

The Tragedy

The summer of 2004 I got a trim from a place near campus. Instead of a trim it was, essentially, an unwanted hair cut. I was left with only one inch of hair on my head! I panicked! I kept pulling on it, convincing myself it was shrunken because it was still wet. Nope, when it dried there was still only one inch of hair on my head! I wore braids, again exclusively, until I felt like my hair was at a comfortable length for me to wear it out. I was definitely ashamed of my short hair.

In 2007 I got my hair colored. It was a light brown color, which I definitely enjoyed. It was time for a change. While in England studing for my MA I noticed my ends felt really dry. So, I decided to go to the hair shop for a trim every six weeks. I must have read somewhere that said this was the "right" amount of time to wait. It was washed, conditoned, blown out, and then flat ironed each time. My hair did grow but I didn't retain length. The color was being trimmed off slowly but surely.

The Epiphany

When I graduated in 2008, my husband and I started making plans to leave the country. We arrived in Spain in March 2009. That's when I initially decided I needed to start being proactive about my haircare. We lived in a small town where there were few, if any, people of color. So I had to learn how to take care of my own hair. 

I researched online, found homemade deep conditioner recipes, hot oil treatments, caramel treatments and the like. There were few herbal stores around. But I went to the few I could find to pick up natural products. I was focused. I made sure to do my hair every week. At this time I wore my hair out 90% of the time and only wore twists occasionally. I guess I just wanted to prove to myself I was comfortable with my hair.

Discovering Youtube

This process worked for awhile. I would shampoo on a Sunday, condition wash (co-wash) on a Wednesday, do hot oil and caramel treatments every four weeks. My hair was also deep conditioned every week. I even bought some scissors to clip my ends when I felt I needed to. Right after a wash my hair would feel soft and manageable and glorious. This would only last two days. Then my hair would feel dry, brittle, look dull and ashy and I couldn't wait until the next wash.

I thought this was the normal condition of my hair. I didn't discover there was a problem until I discovered youtube in April of 2011. I learned about pH levels of the hair and products. I knew I had to find a good moisturizer or it would start to break off. Of course there was nowhere in Spain for me to buy these products and to ship them was a small fortune.

Healthy Hair Care Journey

Luckily, I got to visit my family in the US (thank you mom for buying those tickets!). I was prepared! I sent package after package after package to my mom's house. I bought things from all kinds of websites. I even made sure to stop by Walmart to get some cheap conditioners. I also had my younger sister pick up things like coconut oil and flaxseeds. I was on a mission.

When I got back I started my healthy hair care journey. This is week three and I already notice the difference in how my hair feels and looks. It isn't dry or ashy. My husband said that my hair looked darker and that's because it's finally getting the moisture it needs! I was shocked that at the end of the week my hair was not a disaster. Usually it looks like it needs to be washed and re-styled asap! But my hair looked fresh, moisturized and soft! I know I'm on the right path.

Current and Future Products

As I've said before, the purpose of this blog isn't only to help myself. It's to help anyone and everyone who needs it. So below (in recipes) are some things I use in my hair that I really like. Above you can see the pics of all the products that I use. Tomorrow I will tell you how I use these products by detailling my current hair regimen.

So far I really like the Shea Moisture, curl and style milk. It is light, smells delicious, and leaves my hair soft, moisturized and not greasy. I also like the kimmaytube conditioner (recipe below). Mainly because I don't have to add more product to my hair until day three after my wash. Even when I exercise and sweat! However, there are still some products I would like to try in the future:

• Qhemet Biologics--Honeybush Tea Soft Gel

•  Bee Mine Products Inc.--Deja's Hair Milk and Juicy Moisturizing Daily Spritz

• Identity Hair and Skin Care--Nature's Silk Hair Lotion

• Giovanni--Giovanni Direct protein deep conditoner

• Vegetable glycerin

•  Lavender and grapefruit essential oils

•  Jojoba oil

• Saw palmetto (used to prevent hair loss) and catnip (used to stimulate hair growth)--both are herbs 

Don't worry, I will be sure to use what I have now. I realized when taking the photos that I have A LOT of things right now to keep me satisfied these first three months and beyond.

Recipes

Kimmaytube Leave-In

1oz (or 2 Tbsp.) your favorite leave in conditioner

2 Tbsp. aloe vera juice

2 tsp. jojoba oil

2 tsp. castor oil

Put this on your hair (concentrating on the ends) right before you style.

Hot oil treatment

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 Tbsp. grapeseed oil

1 Tbsp. shea butter

You will probably have some left over but I also put this mix on my scalp. Just heat to warm and put on wet or dry hair in sections. Leave in 20-30 minutes, rinse, then shampoo. Great as a detangler as well.

Caramel treatment

6 Tbsp. honey

6 Tbsp. olive oil

2-3 overripe bananas

3 Tbsp. molasses

4-6 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1-2 Tbsp. cornstarch (depending on how thick you want it to be)

1 tsp. wheat germ oil (can be substituted for any other natural oil of your choice)

Place all ingredients except the water into a blender, blend until smooth. Add water bit by bit if the misture is too dry. Sieve to remove the banana bits. Pour mixture into a suacepan over medium heat, stirring constantly. You don't want to "cook" the mixture but you want the cornstarch to cause it to thicken. It only takes a few minutes. Add more water if it's too thick or more cornstarch if it's too runny. You want to end up with a caramel colored mixture that is the consistency of a thick batter. If it's too think it will drip from the hair. Put it into a container. This is enough for two applications. To apply, divide hair into three or four sections and put generously on the roots and all the way to the ends. Cover hair with a plastic cap, let sit for 1-2 hours or overnight for really dry hair. Wash with sulfate free shampoo and deep condition. Freeze the remainder until you are ready to use it.

 Herbal rinse

2 Tbsp. horsetail (treats brittle hair)

2 Tbsp. sage (treats brittle hair)

2 Tbsp. rosemary (stimulates growth)

1 Tbsp. lavender (stimulates growth)

1 Tbsp. camomille (softens hair)

Put the amounts in a pot with water, bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Once it's cool pour over hair after you shampoo and deep condition and don't rinse out. This makes my hair smell really good! (The kitchen as well when it's cooking). Be careful though because it can stain your bathtub.

Shea butter cream

(Put in 1 Tbsp of all the ingredients. You can use any essential oils and regular oils you like.)

shea butter

olive oil

grapeseed oil

vitamin e oil

almond oil

coconut oil

rosemary essential oil

orange essential oil

castor oil

honey

Mix everything together with a hand mixer or a blender. It will come out nice and creamy.

Be sure to check out Part 2 tomorrow!