Monday Morning Rx

Are you ready for your week? Need a little something to make you feel good? Well, my friend, you've got the all that you need to make this a good day.

What's one thing that makes me feel instantly more perky? cute panties. nobody knows but you, and that makes the smile they put on your face that much more intriguing! i personally love t.j.maxx and marshall's. there you can get really cute stuff for less than $5.

so, be it satin, lace, or cotton floral, pick your pair and smile today. it's your monday morning. make it a good one.

Openness

so, i got to grab some fro yo with a friend i hadn't gotten to talk to in a while. she is one of those people that is super open and you never have to wonder if you are seeing the real her or not. i feel like God has put a few of these kind of people in my life and it is so refreshing! it always inspires me to be the most genuine me. it reminds me that being unapologetically you allows others to do the same, and that is a beautiful thing.

Letting Go

so i have been under a lot of stress lately: residency interviews, struggling with independence from my parents, dealing with my mother's history if illness and the fear that it would once again become an issue. things that would stress anyone. so in sitting with my wonderful boyfriend and venting, he helped me to realize that i have been much more stressed out than i let myself realize. after he listened very well, he asked me a good question- what would God want from me in these situation. hmmmm. i had to stop and think. i took a moment and prayed, and i learned two things:

1. i need to validate my stress. i often think about all the people that have things worse off than me. and God bless 'em, there are many people in worse circumstances. but i have to allow myself the space to feel the way that i feel and address it.

2. God just wants me to trust him. all of my stressing and worrying about my mother's health or my life's next step or whether or not to look for a job this spring is of no consequence. my worrying is wasteful. just take action toward what i want and trust in God that things will be as the should.

letting go,
monday morning diva

Real Man of Genius: Christopher Porche- Graphic Designer

christopher porche is a soon-to-be graduate of NCCU. his art can be seen far and wide from business cards to event flyers. he also does large scale paintings and photography. his work is inspired by the people and events in his life. he is passionate about what he does and it showes. i was able to get some time with mr. porche, and this is what he had to share.


how did you get into graphic design?
well, my mother was an art teacher. i picked up my love of art from here. i wanted a field that would allow me to express myself; to combine computer graphics and fine art.

from where do you draw your inspiration?
art is the immitation of life. so i look at my own life and that of the people around me.


what is your favorite subject matter?
i can't say i have a favorite. every project is technically the same- communication of thoughts and idea. that is what i enjoy the most, so how can i choose?

do you do freelance in this area?
yes i do. if someone would like to contact me, they can email me at christopher.porche@gmail.com.

what is your power song at the moment?
"b.e.a.t." by mos def and "only play this at night" by pete rock.

when do you feel most powerful?
when i am praying.

when do you feel most peaceful?
when i'm praying.

anything else that you would like to say?
i have learned to appreciate the good times and the bad. life is an accumulation of your reactions to what is given to you. so put a smile on your face and make this world a better place.

Winter Skin Care

my skin is already dry. and i am prone to inflammation. i have mild eczema and keratosis pilaris. this is a genetic condition where the hair follicles don't clear dead skin cells as they should. the result? i look like i have small goosebumps most of the time. on fair skinned people, it can appear like reddening around the hair follicle especially on the upper arms and top of the thighs. depending on how irritated my skin is it may be more or less noticeable. but this i know- winter time brings cold dry air, and my skin does not take a liking to cold dry air. so i need to pay special attention to my moisturizing strategy during the colder months. does this seem to be a problem for you too? well, this is my plan. maybe it will work for you:

-luke-warm showers: hot water is an irritant. it dissolves all the natural oils in the skin and sensitive skin responds by thickening itself to protect against further insult. the result- scaly, dry skin. luke-warm showers cut down on irritation and dryness. this is going to be hard because i LOVE my hot showers :(

-mild soap: if your skin is like mine, even the fragrance in shower gels and novelty toiletries can cause irritation. my dermatologist recommended dove beauty bar for sensitive skin. it is unscented and has the appropriate pH to prevent irritation.

-cream moisturizer: i was dismayed to find that regular lotion does not do the job for me. i have been a user of cetaphil moisturizing cream and it works wonders.

-drink more water: i believe that dry skin is a reflection of not only what you put on your body, but what you put in your body. when you drink more, that water distributes throughout the body and plums up your cells. this makes skin look more dewy and resilient.


how does your skin change during the winter months? what have you found that works for you?

**image from thebeautypot.com**

64oz Challenge

so i was working in the prenatal clinic at the health department and found that the one piece of advice that i kept giving the wonderfully pregnant ladies was this: drink 8-10 glasses of water each day. it was the remedy to all ills- swelling, carpel tunnel, cramps. you name it. water fixes it.

one day, as i was re-applying lip balm for the 3rd time in 2 hours, it occurred to me "maybe my lips are dry from the inside out". now, i will be the first to tell you that i am chronically dehydrated. i don't really like the taste of water unless i have just worked out or it is hot outside. but i felt like a hypocrite not practicing what i was preaching.

so for a few days, i carried and 33oz water bottle and tried to fill it twice during the day. it was so SOOOOO hard. i found myself peeing what felt like every 5 minutes! but i will tell you, i had more energy, my skin felt better and my eyes were less puffy. but... i fell off the wagon.

so, for 1 week, i will challenge myself to drink 64oz of water each day. after the week is over, i will document the results. like diddy said in that proactive commercial "i have to moisturize my situation". so, here it goes. check back in a week.

Good Hair

there has been a lot of discussion around chris rock's new movie "good hair". i'll admit (and it may be a crime as a black woman to say this- especially one with natural hair) but i have not seen it. but it has made me think about the way that i view my own hair.

i had a perm since i can remember. my last one was november 2005. i transitioned for about a year and a half and then chopped off the permed ends. it was a trying process but i love the versatility of my natural hair. it's thicker and shinier when i press it, and i have the option of rocking the fro or twists.

my biggest stuggle is not comparing my hair to someone else's. "i wish" can sometimes be a bad word. "i wish my hair was shorter, longer, more even texture, not so hard to straighten, not so thick, thicker, etc". i am starting to settle down with the thought that good hair is the hair that i have today. if i spend all my time lamenting over what it isn't, i waste time that i could be spending maximizing what it is.

so i am exploring ways to work with my natural texture and minimize damage from heat and tension. as i find things that work well, i'll share them. and if you have things that have worked well for you, then by all means, share the wealth!

Allow Me To (Re)Introduce Myself

ok, so the title of this post is a little bit of a stretch, but i mean, how do you start a blog anyway? i figured a good way would be to tell you a little bit about myself. i am 26. i'm from the south. i have natural hair. i am 6 months away from finishing medical school- destined to be an obgyn. i am a Christian who strives to love God more. i am a very loved girlfriend. i love music and art and food and dancing. i love to travel. i hate when people are rude. i am moody. i love my friends but value my time alone. i have the cutest dog ever. i am striving to live my best life.

so, why a blog? well, i am in a transitional stage in my life. i have a lot to learn. lots of things will be changing very soon. why not explore in an environment where the things that i learn can benefit you! and your knowledge can benefit me! it's a big happy information exchange party!

why "Monday Morning Diva"? do you remember those girls who always seemed to have it together? the ones with the perfect hair and make-up and clothes and eyebrows? the ones who effortlessly double majored in political science and finance and looked impeccable in their 8am class? well, i was not that girl, but i admired that girl's polish and poise. if you are that girl, then i admire you. this blog is about attaining that level of togetherness in all areas of life. about arriving at a point where i feel put together and confident most of the time. and PLEASE don't think that this is all about appearances. this is as much or more about inner strength and confidence than anything else. it's about the total package. about having a diva attitude on saturday night and on monday morning. and if you can be a diva on monday morning, then there is nothing you can't do ;)