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Weekend Pics

Here are some pics my homegirl, Rahil, took during her weekend visit. She pulled out her camera to capture our fun as we wandered around looking for fleamarkets and such in D.C.

Rahil's Health & Beauty Tips: New Hair

My hair had become a huge ordeal for me!  Since I started running on a consistent basis, the "ponytail/bun" became my constant hairdo.  It was my trusty go-to style.  However, with the constant brushing back, hair-dying, salt water and chlorine over the summer, my hair was in desperate need of some TLC. So, after much consideration, last week I went and had my hair cut.  I dyed it (I know it isn't good, but I needed to get rid of that blonde streak) and got some highlights and I must say I am enjoying the change!  I went to a salon called Brownstone (www.brownstonenaturalhair.com) in Philly on South Street. My experience was great!  The shop is designed nicely and it's very clean.  The staff was friendly and professional — no waiting or pauses in hair treatment due to a cell phone call.  When I had my hair out in all its glory, there were no exasperated looks of "am I gonna have to do that hair!"  Best of all, I felt like my hairdresser was able to capture just what I wanted. 

What I had done: 1. Cut 2. Dye (entire head) 3. Highlights
When I got home I applied: 1. Ms. Jessie's Baby Buttercream 2. Ms. Jessie's Curly Pudding (which smells fantastic!). Then, I started taking small sections and twisting them around my finger, this was the end result.  I also have been rocking it like the second photo, which is great after a run, when I just have time to condition and go.

Before:

After with twists:

After with twist-out:

Rahil's Health & Beauty Tips: Spa Week

Gone are the lazy days of summer, now the rat race has begun for many! My son just started preschool, so I'm waking up early to get him off and before I know it, it's time to pick him up, cook dinner, and get him ready for bed. As much as I appreciate that he has somewhere to go and I finally have a chance with my own thoughts, I see how I get burned out. Stress is unavoidable but when followed with a period of relief, it is tolerated by your body. The problem arises when there is no relief in sight and one can began to exhibit physical symptoms like headaches, sleeping difficulties and an upset stomach to name a few. So, much to my delight I was happy to find out about an event called Spaweek. This event allows you to go to almost any spa in your area and receive various treatments for $50. Considering how much treatments usually run, this is a huge break! Spa treatments are luxuriating and fabulous, but most importantly they give you a calm and rejuvenating state or mind, which is perfect for stress reduction! Check out this website: www.spaweek.org for more info and hurry, appparently, it has already started in select cities. Bye-Bye stress!

Rahil's Health & Beauty Tips: Health Quiz

 
One of the main things I enjoyed about nursing was learning and educating others about health. To me, the best prevention is knowledge. It enables you to make informed decisions and live a more healthful life. I found a quiz, which covers information about women's health in Real Simple magazine and felt that it gives some valuable information. Take the quiz to check your health knowledge! Real Simple Health Quiz

Rahil's Health & Beauty Tips: Eyelashes

Eyes say so much without saying anything! Whether you're tired, happy, sad or angry they will give it up!  So, I decided that since mine usually say "you're tired" I wanted to improve that. One way to do that is add two extra steps to my morning routine.
Step 1. Curl eyelashes:  make-up artists swear by Shu Uemura's eyelash curler ($18), heat the curler for 5 seconds with your blowdryer, make sure it's not too hot than apply to the base of the lashes and hold for 20 seconds.
Step 2. Mascara: Use brown for a more natural look, black to really enhance your eyes or blue for a change. One of the best and my favorite mascara is Maybelline's Great Lash. Apply to upper lid lashes holding wand horizontally from the base and let wand rest on lashes for a few seconds to enhance curl, make sure to apply second coat before first dries to avoid clumping. Apply wand to lower lid lashes vertically, and make sure there isn't an excessive amount of mascara on the wand to avoid the spider eye look. I liked the understated improvement!

Rahil's Health & Beauty Tips: Facial Care

Skin is the largest organ in your body and one of the first things people see, so taking care of it is very important. Here's a breakdown of the products I use on my face:

I begin my day with Target brand cream cleanser which is comparable to Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser. I love the cool, tingling sensation I get afterwards! I also use Queen Helene Oatmeal n' Honey Natural Facial Scrub, it gently exfoliates your skin and smells great! This product I use about 1-2 times per week. With all the recent influx of skin care products, it's no wonder I was convinced to buy $107 moisturizing cream from the Chanel counter. It made my skin feel so luxurious! Once I exited the store, however, I regained my senses and realized that was too much money, so I returned it in hopes of finding a less expensive but just as effective cream. This is what I found; Oil of Olay Active Hydrating Cream. I achieved the same results, soft, supple skin and saved $100! Once a week I use Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, its great to tackle all those tiny white/blackheads and reduce the size of your pores. Lastly, I use Jason's 25,000 IU Vitamin E Age Renewal Moisturizing Creme at night. This product is also great in the winter time, if you live in a cold climate! All of these products can be found at your local drugstore, except for the Vitamin E cream, which I purchase at Whole Foods or almost any other local health food store.