My Unplanned Hiatus

Hey y'all!

I just wanted to write really quickly to let you all know that I am still here. I ended up going on an unplanned hiatus; life is crazy right now, but I will definitely try to post as I get the time. My hair is doing awesome, she's almost at 5 months of growth, which is exciting, but I can't wait to get back to my original length. I have no pictures at the moment, sorry guys. I will definitely update soon so you can see my progress.

xo,

Rita

In Review: As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner

Hello beauties.

This is my review and experience with As I Am's Hydration Elation deep conditioner.

What As I Am says about their product:

Scheduled maintenance with this deep-down hydrating and fortifying treatment is a must for strong, shiny, soft, springy coils and curls. This rich penetrating conditioner is an exceptional formula that moisturizes the dry places, smoothes the rough areas, strengthens the weak spots, and gives shine where there is dull. Treat your hair every 2 to 3 weeks (or even more frequently, depending upon the condition of your hair and what you do to it).

Ingredients:

Key Ingredients: Coconut, Sugar Cane, Green Tea, Apple, Lemon, Vegetable Glycerin, Shea Butter and Vitamin E

Aqueous (Water, Aqua Purificada, Purified) Extracts: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) and Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine)¹, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil², Coco-Caprylate², Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin¹, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Phytosterols¹, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract¹ (Green Tea), Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract¹, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract¹, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Stalk Extract¹, Fragrance/Parfum, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glucose, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Abies Balsamea (Balsam Canada) Extract¹, Limonene
Source: 1-Natural, 2-Coconut

My Experience:

I was so excited about using this product, especially when I read the list of yummy key ingredients. I tried it for the first time, and was utterly disappointed. But I wanted to love it, badly, so I continued using it week after week for about two months. Unfortunately, my hair doesn't like it. There are no adverse effects or anything crazy but it doesn't do anything special for my hair, neither does it give the moisture that I was previously accustomed to enjoying.

The consistency of this conditioner is fairly thick but creamy. When applied to wet hair, it adheres nicely so there's not much of a drip. It smells faintly of strawberries...if they were processed and mixed with lots of chemicals. The price is listed as $16.00 on As I Am's website, for 8 oz. In my opinion, that's a little expensive for the amount of product you're getting. I still have half of my jar left, but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with it yet since I now have a new staple deep conditioner. (Read about it here.) I may give it away to someone, and hopefully their hair will like it.

I hope this review was helpful! If you have tried this product, share your experience with me! Did you like it? Or was your experience similar to mine?

xo,

Rita

Style Catalog: Modified Frohawk

A few days ago, I was getting restless with my hair so I decided to try a style that I used to do on my longer tresses. It's something like a frohawk but with a personal twist on it.

All I do to achieve this look is to pin back the sides, as you would with a frohawk. That's all I do. I don't pin the entire side, just the part above my ears (as pictured above).

Products I Used:

• Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
• IC Fantasia Hair Polisher Olive Styling Gel
• Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
• Bobby pins

I pulled a piece of hair from the top, going downward to cover the bobby pins, and pinned it at the bottom. My hair came out cute, although it looks weird in these pictures. The style lasted throughout the entire day, and that's always a plus!

I enjoyed this style and I'm excited to see what the future of it looks like as my mane grows and develops.

xo,

Rita

Love, Rita Lynn

Hello all.

Because there is more to me than just hair, as you may already know, I have decided to create a second blog entitled Love, Rita Lynn. I wanted to do this for a few reasons. I, personally, feel that the range of this blog is too wide. The focus of this blog is supposed to be on natural hair and I believe that all of the other aspects outshine and overshadow that. I will still post some things that don't have to do with hair, but the focus will be on natural hair.

My new blog will be a more personal blog. You will get to see more of who I am, and what my likes and dislikes are. So far, I plan on sharing poetry, fitness tips, life inspiration, my life adventures, food recipes, and fashion spotlights. I'm really excited about this blog so I really hope you all like it.

Go on over, check it out, and let me know what you think.

Much love, 

Rita

Eight.Ten.TwentyTwelve.: Wash Day x Greek Yogurt Deep Conditioner

Hey y'all!

Yesterday was wash day for me and I deep condition my hair every wash day, once a week. I was unsatisfied with my current DC by As I Am (review coming soon) and I had a tub of Greek yogurt that needed to be used, so I decided to try Kendra's Greek yogurt deep conditioning treatment.

What I Used:

4 tablespoons of yogurt

2 tablespoons of honey

1 teaspoon of coconut oil

Although Kendra's hair is much longer than mine, I decided to follow her recipe exactly to make sure I had enough. I ended up having half of the mixture left after I used what I needed, so now I will know how to modify the recipe to fit me.

Keep reading to see my experience.

Glowing Green Smoothie

Hey y'all!

I'm trying to incorporate a healthier diet in my lifestyle. So, for the past few days I've been drinking this smoothie that I made. I got the recipe from Heather Lindsey's blog and I'm so excited about it.

Ingredients:

A handful of organic spinach

1 Fuji apple

1 Asian pear (both peeled & cored) - I used an Anjou pear because I couldn't find an Asian one

1/2 cup of ice

1 banana

1/2 of an avocado

3 stalks of celery

1 cup of cold, filtered water

1/2 the juice of a fresh lemon - I used concentrated lemon juice

When I made this smoothie, there were no instructions with it. So, I put the spinach and a little bit of water in first. Then added everything else randomly. The recipe did say to blend low to high, which I did.

Smell:

The smell is not bad, it smells like fresh fruit and vegetables mixed together.

Texture:

The texture was a little weird to me. It was a bit more textured than I am used to my smoothies being. I didn't mind it too much though.

Taste:

Now, let me say, it is an acquired taste. The first sip is the hardest. I didn't know what to expect when tasting it but somehow I was still caught off guard. It's not sweet. You do taste the vegetables. You also taste the fruit though. After a few sips, it tasted better. My taste buds adjusted to the taste of the smoothie and I began to enjoy it. It is yummy but if you're not used to drinking vegetables it will take a little time to get acquainted with it. I must say, it tastes clean and it feels good knowing that what I'm drinking is so healthy for me.

What I Would Do Different:

Next time, I will definitely use two stalks of celery instead of three. I thought three was a bit much, especially for me because I greatly dislike celery, but I wanted to follow the recipe. Also, I found this green smoothie recipe last night which is very similar to the one I used to make my smoothie. I will probably follow that one tomorrow when I blend my smoothie or I may use a mixture of the two recipes.

I really enjoyed this experience and I definitely plan on continuing to drink these. I drink mine for breakfast but you can drink it any time of the day. I'm on my way to being a healthier, better me. Join me on the journey!

xo,

Rita

Eat Mor Chikin!

Okay, so if you've ever eaten at Chick-Fil-A, you probably noticed at least one sign with the cow who is holding up a bulletin board that says "eat mor chikin". I personally think it's hilarious.

From what I understand, the CEO of Chick-Fil-A, S. Truett Cathy, was recently asked his opinion on same-sex marriage. He replied by letting them know that he did not agree with it. Now, one must understand that this is a Christian-based business. Chick-Fil-A is closed on Sundays to honor the Sabbath day. I can't fathom why Mr. Cathy's response was a surprise. Some cities were trying to keep Chick-Fil-A from opening a restaurant there and everything. From my knowledge, people were really trying to shut the place down because of the CEO's opinion. So, on August 1, there was a National Appreciation Day launched for everyone to go out and show their support for Chick-Fil-A. (Keep reading for my experience!)

Seven.ThirtyOne.TwentyTwelve.

Hello loves.

The sunset when I got out of church on Sunday night.

These past few days have been difficult for me. It seemed as though everything was going wrong during the day as well as while asleep. I was weary as I started my day this morning. I wanted to let go of everything I knew was right to do and go back to my old ways. Instead, I went running. I determined in my mind that I won't give up. God brought me to it, and He can definitely bring me through it. It was time for me to start practicing what I preach. I always tell others how "God already gave you what you needed to get through that situation at the very moment He sent it to you". How easily we forget the things that we use to encourage others to encourage ourselves. I know that I look for others to encourage me when I'm down, but sometimes I have to encourage myself. I know the Truth, and I'm the only one who knows my situation from the inside. Even in times when I feel I can't encourage myself, and other earthly creatures' encouragement won't suffice either; that's when God steps in and sends His Divine words to me straight from Him. And that is the greatest encouragement ever!

At some point in your life, there is going to come a time, probably more than once, where you must shift your space. For me, this happens once every season. My life facilitates in seasons. Some longer, and some shorter. If there is an unhealthy relationship in your life, be it natural or spiritual, let it go. Cut those ties. Sometimes, you have to be selfish. It's either YOU or THEM. Taking their side may end up leaving you dead. Shift your space. Either you move or you move them, whichever is beneficial to you.

Also, sometimes we feel like God has forsaken us when He puts us through things. But He hasn't! He's right there waiting for you on the other side. God sends us through things to draw us closer to Him. We profess that we love the Lord, and He has to try us to make sure we really do.

"I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." -Jeremiah 17:10

 We are going to be rewarded in Heaven. If God is going to give us all these great treasures on the other side, He has to make sure this person really loves Him. He loved us enough to die for us, so our little finite situations that we go through to prove our love to Christ is nothing. Be encouraged. God will never leave you nor forsake you. He'll give you just the wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and prudence you need to make it through every situation in your life.

Much love,

Rita

Song of the Week: My Life is in You, Lord

Hello hello hello. :)

I'm excited about the song feature for this week. Not for any particular reason, but it's just an awesome feel-good song. It's called "My Life is in You, Lord" and I don't know if it ever made it mainstream or to radio but we sing it at my church and I absolutely love it! It's very simple and it says:

My life is in You, Lord
My strength is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord
It's in You

We change up the second part of the song from the traditional way. We sing it just like the first part. Here are the lyrics:

Delight is in the Father
Delight is in the Son
Delight is in the Holy Ghost
They are three in one 

I love it! Listen to it here. Enjoy and have a Happy Saturday! :) 

xo,

Rita

Don't Wait Until It's Too Late

Hello loves.

As I was driving to church this evening I heard the sirens of a firetruck and it sped past my street. I stopped at a stop sign on the corner and saw billows of black smoke filling the air. It took a few second for everything to register but then when I saw two more fire trucks accompanied with sirens, it clicked. Something is on fire! I saw that the smoke was coming from what looked like my church. I immediately started worrying and getting nervous. Traffic was blocked in certain areas so cars wouldn't stop passing in front of me. I was stuck at the stop sign and couldn't move, praying and pleading that it wasn't my church and if it was that no one was hurt. Finally, the traffic was clear and I was a nervous wreck. I approached closer to all of the commotion and saw the flames. No, it wasn't my church, thank God. But it still broke my heart that everything that someone had was now gone. Their home was consumed with a blazing fire. I pray no one was inside. All of these people's earthly possessions were gone. Just like that. I went into the church relieved but still shaken up, and burst into tears my heart going out to that family. Then I had to repent for forsaking God's house. You see, I hadn't been to church since Sunday and that is not like me. We have Monday night prayer meeting and Wednesday night church service but I wasn't there. It's not like I had good reason not to be there, I just didn't go. If that would have been my church that was set ablaze, I would have missed my last opportunity to worship there. This is the church that I grew up in, the church I got baptized in, and received the Holy Ghost in; the church I taught in, the church my god-sons, as well as I, was dedicated to the Lord in. Yes, we could build another church building. It would never be the same as the original though. The Word says

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." -Hebrews 10:25

The end is quickly approaching, and it's so important now more than ever to make it to church where our brothers and sisters in the Lord are.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." -Matthew 18:20

"How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?" -Deuteronomy 32:30

There is power in numbers. If we take those things that we may be struggling with that we don't have the power to fight on our own and join with our brothers and sisters, then we can overcome those things. The battle is great in these last days. We have to utilize every bit of truth that we have to make it. And we CAN make it, God already gave us everything that we need. Don't wait until it's too late. Use it now. Be encouraged y'all.

Much love,

Rita

 

Song of the Week: The Wonderful Cross

Hello loves.

This week's song spotlight is on "The Wonderful Cross". This song is very dear to my heart. The lyrics are amazing and the song truly speaks for itself. My favorite lyric is:

"See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did ever such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?"

I was introduced to this song through my church a few years ago but it was made popular by Michael W. Smith and another version is by Chris Tomlin. It really makes you sit and think about what happened on Calvary's cross and it breaks my heart each time. It is important for us to remember Calvary's cross and the crucifixion of our Savior because then we will never forget to use His Blood for all things, which was His reason for going to the Cross. You can listen to Michael W. Smith's version of the song here. I pray that you are blessed by what you hear.

Much love,

Rita 

Seven.Twenty.TwentyTwelve.: Today's Run x Motivation

Hello loves.

Lately, I've been in a little funk over exercising. I really just didn't feel like it. I asked myself "why should I?" multiple times and I couldn't really come up with an answer. I had a true lack of motivation. I couldn't say to lose weight. I'm 114 lbs., I don't need to lose any weight. And I've never been bigger than 118 so even if I don't do anything I won't be that much larger than I am now. I also couldn't say to stay healthy. I felt like if I ate healthy then I would be healthy regardless of if I exercise or now. I came up with every excuse possible to feel justified about not working out.

Then last night I got to my lowest point. I felt HORRIBLE in my body. I was fine and there was nothing wrong with me but I missed how I used to feel in my body when I was working out daily. I had more energy then and I was more motivated in every aspect of my life. I wanted to feel that way again but I didn't know how to push myself to get up and run. Then I came across a fitness blog that mentioned The Color Run. 

I had heard about this particular 5k run before but never really paid attention to it. I thought "oh that looks like fun" but never considered participating in it. Until now. When I saw this and went to the website (linked above) I knew that I had to do this! And this was my newfound motivation. I was running one mile before and a 5k is 3.1 miles so I figured I can definitely do this. The one that I will be attending is in Houston, TX on November 11, which so happens to be World Run Day. If I start training myself now, I'll definitely be able to  run three miles by November. So this morning, I started my training by pushing myself to run TWO miles. Yes, it was difficult but I got it done. I set a goal and I'm DETERMINED to reach it. And I'm SO excited to be apart of The Color Run this year!

Hopefully this inspires you to push past yourself and know that you CAN do ANYTHING you set your mind to in any aspect of your life. I know God's got me and I know He has you too. With Him on our side, we can do anything.

xo,

Rita

Style Catalog: How I Twist My Hair

I have received many questions about how I twist my hair to achieve the look of my twist-outs. So I decided to make a video to show you all. Enjoy.

xo,

Rita

Song of the Week: "Don't Wanna Let You Go"

By Deitrick Haddon.

No matter what state of mind I am in, this song breaks me down and opens my heart so that I can worship Jesus and let His love flow through me. It's on his Crossroads album which was released in 2004. This is one of my favorite songs; a true worship song. It is a cry out to God, pleading for His presence, His Spirit, to stay and making a bold statement saying that I won't let Him go once He comes to me.

"Now that you're here, I don't wanna let you go."

"I'm in love with you Jesus and I..."

 "I'll just stay here in Your arms forever."

Simple song. Simple lyrics. Strong message. Pure worship. Listen to it here. Much love.

 xo,

Rita

In Loving Memory...

I went to a funeral today and it birthed thoughts in my mind.

First off, it hit me like a brick that my loved one's body was lying in this casket, but SHE, her soul and spirit, was gone. This is not a new concept for me. I have the knowledge and understanding of the process of death but to actually experience it one more time was tough. Death is always difficult for me. But this realization reminded me once more that my body, on one side, is nothing. It's just clay; dirt and water.

As I have been doing, I need to continuously work on my soul and my spirit. Working to become closer to God and to make an impact in people's lives through love. That is what is important. Different friends and loved ones rose up and spoke kinds words about the deceased. It made me wonder, as I do at every funeral, "What will they say about me? What type of legacy will I leave behind?" I pray that people recognize my love for Christ as well as my love for others. I want the love that I have inside of me to penetrate the very core of each person's heart that I come into contact with. I am an advocate for love, but I can do better to make that love manifest in others' lives.

Shift my space. Get focused. Love with my entire being. Don't hold anything back.

The song "I Can Only Imagine" was played during the ceremony and it stirred me up. When I go to be with the Lord, will He be pleased with my works that I have done, within and without? Will the Heavens rejoice that I've made it? I am striving to please Jesus alone. I want my heart to be like His. I am not my own, I belong to Him therefore I shall do whatever He wishes for me with no questions asked, no hesitation. If I do this that I strive to do, then I know that He will be pleased to the uttermost.

This is my desire.

xoxo, Rita

Just Keep Running On..

Hello loves.

I've recently started running as a form of exercise. For the past month I had been going running every morning. Since I went out-of-town and had family to visit here at my home before then, it had been about three weeks since I ran. I knew that my body was out of shape but I refused to give up on my goals so I pressed through my feelings and FINALLY made it to the track today. And my body feels AMAZING. So worth it. I just want to encourage you, just keep running, keep pushing through. You may be going through a dead season where you don't FEEL like it, but don't give up on your goals; your second wind is coming, your strength is coming.

Just GO. There will be tons of things you need to do, tons of thoughts will cross your mind to keep you from exercising and meeting your goals. But you have to just put those things aside and GO. Make it a priority to get your temple into shape. We are vessels that God uses to spread His Word, and if we are unhealthy then it makes it that much more difficult to do what He wishes for us to. Our body is our temple, therefore we must keep it clean and tidy, in every way, inside and out.

The natural types the spiritual. When you feel weary like you can't take another step and you feel like you are completely surrounded by darkness, just keep running, keep pushing through. You cannot go by your FEELINGS, they deceive on a daily basis. Your second wind is coming, your strength is coming. Don't give up, God is right there.

Much love.
xo Rita

Today's Hair: 07/12/12

(click on photos to enlarge)

Hello beautiful people.

It's a rainy day out so I wanted something cute but simple and out of my face. So I went to the trusty old Puff. My puff is not yet mature so it  may look a little different than yours but once my hair gets longer then my puff will continue to shape and evolve.

Pretty woven-type flower!

This is an old twist-out. I re-twisted the night before last so there's a little bit of definition going on. I love it though.

Products I used:
- water (spritzed from a spray bottle for moisture)
- Beautiful Textures' Whipped Curl Creme
- Elasta QP Smooth as Silk gel

Very simple but cute look. If you want to see more pictures, keep reading!

Seven.Nine.TwentyTwelve.

Always be true to yourself.

Speak. You may think that you have nothing to say but you will never know until you try. Someone may need to hear exactly the thing that comes from your mouth. When you do, make sure you speak with an open heart, always.

Love. I am an advocate for love. If you know me, then you know this. I always say "Give love. Always." It may seem difficult but there are many ways to give love. A gentle touch, a kind word, a silent smile to a stranger. It doesn't have to be big but you never know what a person is going through. You could be the vessel that God uses to save a person's life. I've experienced this and it is real. Love has power, utilize it.

Let God use you. We are nothing but vessels that God works through to reach other people. If God puts it on your heart to do something, do it. Don't feel as though you are not big enough to do this thing. Just do it. In your small, feeble, and finite way. The Father covers small things with His love; and once you are surrounded with Him, then that is what people see when you are fulfilling your purpose.

This was on my heart to share with you all this morning. Be blessed and give love, always.

xoxo, Rita

Pentecostal Naturals!

I am so excited about this post!

I just created a social network for Pentecostal naturals of the same name and I think it's so awesome! For those who may not want to create their own blog or who want more interaction in the Pentecostal natural hair community, I decided to create this network. I don't know what God is going to do with this but the idea came to me a few hours ago. I was sitting here wanting to interact more with the natural hair community, specifically Pentecostal and Apostolic ladies but not knowing how to do it. Then I thought about this! Thank you Jesus. So, if you are interested or anyone you know may be interested, please check out the site and JOIN. It's free and it will be nothing without you all! So please tell all of your friends and join me over at Pentecostal Naturals!!! See you on the site! :)

Love and Peace,
xoxo Rita

Song of the Week: I've Anchored in Jesus

Hey y'all!!

A beautiful view of the sun on our way to Indiana.

So, you may have been wondering where I've been. Well, for the past week I've been in Jeffersonville, Indiana for my church's annual July International Convention. It was AMAZING, the best yet. Every year we say that it was the best convention ever, but that's because it's true. It gets better and better as time goes on. I didn't take many pictures, hardly any at all because time was precious, and so was energy. The convention was five days of services, both morning and night, with on average about three hours between the two.

The Word was out of this world, I may be able to share some things that I learned later down the line. If you like, you can go to my church's website christgospel.org and view each of the messages from the July Convention in the video library. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to e-mail me.

A view of one of the bridges we passed. I love bridges!

Now, on to the song of the week. The theme of the convention was being anchored in Jesus so we sang a song each service called "I've Anchored in Jesus". It's a little out of my comfort zone, a country hymn, but the more I listened to it as well as the lyrics, the more I loved it. Once we make Jesus the core of our lives and anchor ourselves in Him, then we don't have to worry about being overtaken by the waves of trials that we face. We know that Jesus will take care of it all if we lean on Him.

This past week has been life-changing and I am so excited about what God is doing in my as well as the rest of my church family's life. I am forever grateful.

The beautiful view from our hotel room.

Love and Peace,
xoxo Rita

In Review: Beautiful Textures Moisture Butter Whipped Curl Creme

Hey y'all!

Today I want to share my experience with Beautiful Textures' lovely Curl Creme. This product was recommended to me by a fellow natural and friend, Ashlyn, who will hopefully soon be featured here on the blog.

What Beautiful Textures says about their product:

Dry, brittle, thirsty hair stunts natural growth. To help ensure locks reach their full growth potential, refresh and hydrate your mixed textured hair every day with Moisture Butter.

Moisture Butter helps maximize the styling options of mixed textured hair by helping achieve softer, more defined curls, healthier looking elongated coils, or simply silky-smooth hydrated hair.

Ingredients:
 Water, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Oil, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, PEG 75 Lanolin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Cetyl Alcohol, Argania Spinosa Nut Oil/Argan Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil/Coconut Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit/Shea Butter, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter/Mango Butter, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract/Rosemary Extract, Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract/Aloe Vera, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panax Ginseng Root Extract/Ginseng Extract, Polysorbate 20, Imidazolidinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin, CI 15985/Yellow 6, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Lyral, Methyl Ionone Gamma.

My experience with this product:
First of all, let me say that I LOVE this stuff! Before I purchased this item, I looked at the ingredients and although they looked good, I was a bit skeptical about trying it. I decided to go ahead and try it; I thought one use won't kill my hair. I am so happy with this product. I have used it for a wash-and-go, wet twist-outs, dry twist-outs, and general styling purposes. It is very moisturizing but at the same time gives you great shine AND definition. A lot of moisturizing products I've used before didn't give me shine or definition so this product had a real advantage.

Also, I was looking for a product that wouldn't turn white once I added gel on top as a finisher and I'm happy to say that this Moisture Butter fits the description. The texture is light and creamy, not heavy like most butters. The difference with this product is that it's whipped which makes it easier to penetrate the hair follicle quicker, locking in maximum moisture. I purchased this product from Sally Beauty Supply for about $6.95 or so. It's very affordable AND available on the ground, which I love.

I hope you found this review helpful!

Love and Peace,

xoxo Rita

Happy Birthday Title IX!!

So, as you may or may not know, this week America is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Title IX law. The goal of this law was to end sex discrimination in schools that received federal money, which would ultimately allow more opportunities for females. This eventually included athletic opportunities and participation in sports.

I am so excited about the anniversary! Being that I was an athlete in grade school (I played volleyball, basketball, tennis, and even ran track for a little while. I also was apart of the band and drill-team.) this is close to my heart. I may have never had the opportunities to participate in those activities if it wasn't for this law, so I am grateful.

I am all for female empowerment as well. I'm not a feminist but I do believe that women deserve to be respected just as much, if not more than a man. Women are more than what society portrays us to be. Although we are kind, loving, meek, and submissive at times, we are STRONG, VIRTUOUS, DETERMINED, and UNRELENTING. We work hard for what we believe in and are passionate about issues that effect us all. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends to those who need us on a daily basis. We give constantly even if there is nothing received in return. We are not perfect, we all have flaws, but we are RESILIENT.

I'm so excited about this! Health and fitness is important to me and even if you aren't an athlete, physical activity is important. But that's another blog post. My point is, women, and men, teach your girls, SHOW them, that they can be whatever they want to be. It doesn't matter if it's a basketball star, an Olympic gymnast, a rocket scientist, a lawyer, a nurse, or a stay-at-home-mom, they CAN do it!

Let us work together to raise this next generation of females and teach them to respect themselves and others, to work hard to reach whatever goals they may have, and to love unconditionally in spite of. We can do it, TOGETHER.

Much love and peace!
xoxo Rita

Song of the Week: Friend in You

Hey friends!

The song that has been on my heart the most this past week is "Friend in You" by Jon Gibson. I absolutely LOVE this song; it's one of my all-time favorites! It makes my heart smile every time I listen to it.

"Friend in You" is found on Jon's album Change of Heart, which was released in 1988. The fact that this song came out before I was even born and is one of my all-time favorites amazes me. I grew up listening to this song on the radio and it stuck with me ever since. Of course as a child, I didn't really listen to the lyrics, but I remember that it filled me with joy every time I heard it. Now that I'm older, the words of the song really touch my heart.

Let me take a moment to say, I really love Jon's voice! He's been compared to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Donny Hathaway and is recognized as one of the pioneers of gospel music. "Friend in You" was one of his number one hits and I see why. This song is about someone who is at their wits end and sees no hope in the future, but then Jon comes along to tell them that Jesus died for them, is a friend that they can always count on, and He lives in spirit right there in their heart.

And the part of the song that speaks to me the most is that exact one:

"My friend, I know what you've gone through, but Jesus died for you. So keep in mind, that although your heart is blue, let it break in two. And you will find a friend that lives in you."

 I love it! You can listen to "Friend in You" here and I pray that you are blessed by it!

Also, one last thing. Let me take this opportunity to extend an open invitation to all: if you do not know Jesus as your Savior and something in this post, or in the song, or just in life in general has touched you to where you do want to know Him and you want Him to live inside of you, send me an e-mail and I will help you in making that possible. You can find my contact information under the "Contact Me" tab at the top of this page.

Much love to all!
xoxo Rita

Happy Father's Day!!

Hi everyone!!

Today is a very special day, it is the day that we set aside everything to give honor to our fathers. I love holidays but I especially love ones that honor and pay homage to those who deserve it.

My father and I :)

I LOVE my dad. He's a very quiet man, solid as a rock, but such a sweetheart inside. I appreciate everything that he does for our family. I've always been a daddy's girl and every time he sits me down to talk to me and share his wisdom with me about life, I cry. He doesn't say anything to make me cry but for some strange reason I always do, even when I vow not to. My father gives me a great example of who and what I want in a husband someday. I pray that I will blessed to have a husband with those same qualities who will be an amazing father himself one day.

My god-children with their father :)

Love and peace,
xoxo Rita

Song of the Week: Draw Me Close To You

Hi all!

This week's song spotlight is on "Draw Me Close To You". There are many versions of this song but I became familiar with it through a brother singing it at my church. This song is very special to me because it is my cry to the Lord. It verbalizes what I feel inside. Ultimately, that is what my heart desires; to be closer and closer in my relationship with Jesus.

This is a very beautiful song. It has a slow tempo and flows kind of like a waterfall. The lyrics are simple, clear, and easy to understand. So no matter how mature or new you are to the world of Christianity, there is something that everyone can take away from this song. I believe it was made popular by Michael W. Smith and since then has been enjoyed by the masses.

This song allows you to have a true heart-to-heart with God and I know I am blessed by it every time I hear it. In case you have never heard this song before, take a listen here and I pray you are encouraged and blessed as you do.

Love and peace,
xoxo Rita

Houston, We Have...Nope, No Problem Here

Hey everyone!

It has been a BUSY but fun week for me. A few days ago, a couple of friends and I took a little road trip to Houston, Texas which is about two hours from where I live. It was for business but we had to have a little fun while there. It's such a beautiful city! Unfortunately, my camera's battery was low and I was able to only snap a few pictures. If you want to see the trip, keep reading! :)

Style Catalog: Flat Twist-Out

Hey y'all!

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend; I know I did. For church on yesterday, I styled my hair in a flat twist-out. It was my first time doing one on my short hair. Thankfully it came out well! The night before, Saturday night, I did three flat twists on the left side of my hair; and three flat twists on the right. Because I never do anything to the back of my hair, I wanted to try something different this time. I did four regular twists in the back and pinned them down so they wouldn't stick out or get smashed as I slept. I twisted with Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie and that's it.

(click on photos to enlarge)

The next morning I took down my hair with only coconut oil. I really like how the results turned out. :) Click the jump to see!

Song of the Week: Fence Riders

Hey y'all!

Because I am a singer and I LOVE music, I have decided to incorporate a new segment into my blog. It's called "Song of the Week" and it will feature a song that has been on my heart the most over the past week. The song for this week is most definitely Jimmy Needham's "Fence Riders".

Jimmy Needham is my most FAVORITE artist so you will surely be seeing more of him in the future. "Fence Riders" has a fun sound with a catchy beat. What stands out the most to me, as it usually is with Jimmy, are the lyrics. My favorite lines are apart of the chorus and they say:

"Can I sing about my maker, and have you not roll your eyes? Can I weep about my Savior, and the way He died? I know it don't make sense, to those who ride the fence, but I'm sold out to Christ!"

 LOVE LOVE LOVE this song! You can listen to it here and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Love, Rita

Style Catalog: Roller Set with Magnetic Rollers

Hey y'all!

I wanted to try something new yesterday because with my hairstyle things can get boring QUICK. So I decided to do a mini roller set on pretty wet hair. So, I co-washed with Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curls & Waves Conditioner, wore the back of my hair as a wash-and-go, and rolled the front.

Here is the size of the rollers I used:

For the back section of my hair, I styled by applying Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, and a SMALL amount of IC Fantasia Gel. Once I added a little bit of the gel, my hair turned white so I worked it through really good and didn't add anymore. Eventually the white color disappeared, as you can see in the pictures. I applied the same product on the front, minus the gel, combed my hair with a fine tooth comb section by section and rolled it.

Here are the results:

Let me start off by saying, the ends of my curls were still wet BUT it was time to leave for church so I had to make due. With that being said, I think my hair came out cute! It is definitely something I will be trying again. It won't make it to second day hair because as I was coming out of church last night, it was raining and I had no umbrella or coat. I chose not to re-roll my hair because I plan on fully washing and DC'ing my hair later today. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this style!

xoxo, Rita

Style Catalog: Pompadour Up Front

Hi all!

I tried out a new hairstyle over the past week and I thought it came out cute so I wanted to share it with you who may have short hair.

To achieve this style, I took the middle front section of my hair, gathered it together, and pushed it forward to make a "hump". I then used two bobbypins to hold the hair in place. I smoothed the sides of my hair with a little IC Fantasia (green) gel and tied a simple black scarf around my head to match my outfit. This was the result:

Let me know if you want to see more styles from me. :)

Love,
Rita

Happy Memorial Day!

First and foremost, I want to give a HUGE thank you to all of the men and women who are in the armed forces risking their lives on a daily basis to keep our country free. THANK YOU. YOU ARE AMAZING.

And I want to take this moment to remember and honor those who have lost their lives defending this country. Although it may not always be said, your contributions are greatly appreciated.

It's going to be a busy day for me. I have a morning Zumba class planned, along with my church picnic, and a cousin's birthday party to follow. I love spending time with family and friends so today is going to be GREAT. I'm so excited! There will be plenty of food including barbecue and crawfish, and that's just what I know about! I'll be sure to come back and update you on everything, including pictures. I hope you all have an AMAZING day. Be blessed.

xo, Rita

UPDATE:

Here are the pictures from the day's events:

Get Up!

Hi all!

I just wanted to share something that's on my heart with you. Lately, I've been fought spiritually REALLY hard and somewhere along the way I decided to stop fighting back. I began putting things back on that I had put off, and doing things that I usually didn't do anymore. The devil was pushing me farther and farther away from God, and I was allowing him to do so. But today, I decided that with Jesus' help, I'm taking my life back and living up to the standard I know to be true.

What I have to say to you is, if you fall GET BACK UP! We all make wrong choices and we fall from time to time, but we MUST get up and continue our journey in our relationship with Jesus. It does not matter what you have done, Jesus will still welcome you back with open arms. Don't beat yourself up because you fell; Jesus was beaten for that. He shed His blood for our sins. We must repent and use His blood to cleanse ourselves from all ungodliness. That's how you get up, by repentance.

Be encouraged. Don't give up the fight, even if you feel as if you're losing or you can't win. If we seek Christ, He will fight our battles for us, but we must be willing to submit to Him. Remember, we must go through a test in order to have a testimony.

Love and Peace,
xoxo Reese