Busy Week

Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in a while but while March Madness is taking place on ESPN I have some madness of my own to take care of in my life. There is so much to do in this month alone and so little time to do it. I will be in New Orleans Wednesday in order to give a sample teaching lesson to first grade students at a charter school I am interviewing at for Teach for America on Thursday. I'm excited and nervous at the same time because I feel like I do not have enough time to prepare! I have three midterms this week and I already know I will be missing one due to the fact that I won't be here on Thursday as well as my organizational responsibilities. I feel OVERWHELMED. Why is everything happening THIS WEEK? Nothing seems to be going the way I plan it and at this point I am just trying to make it through the week. I went back to check my e-mail and my school deleted all of my messages before March 11. I lost so much information and this is definitely not helping. I am hoping that this trip to  New Orleans is a smooth one.

Natural Hair Salon in DC area

Any naturals out there that live in the DC metro area like me? I already know how hard is is to find a hair salon that caters to natural hair. Here's one I want to check out while I am home:

• Noire Salon

Or you could follow owner Camille Reed on Twitter for updates here:

• Camille Reed

Home for the Weekend!

Technically I'm supposed to be home for Spring break but I have to be back up at school on Monday for track practice. I am enjoying what little bit of time I have left here. Tonight I have to study for the Praxis II exam which I will be taking tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM. I'm kind of nervous but I hope I do well and pass.

Wednesday Morning Routine

My favorite thing about Wednesdays is the fact that I don't have any class so I can put a little bit more time into my morning yoga routine and meditation. I took about a half an hour this morning to do some yoga ( I used the intermediate yoga routine video I posted earlier) then I used the next half an hour for some much needed mediation and I feel great! I washed my hair last night, let it air dry for a bit, slept with a bonnet, woke up, fluffed it out with my hands. it is still a little bit damp in some areas but for the most part it's ridiculously moisturized. Here's what I did: 

• Co-wash ( finger combed) 
• Left about a tablespoon of conditioner in and squeezed out excess water 
• Wrapped a light cloth around my hair for about 10 minutes 

20 minutes

• When I took it off I massaged scalp with some oil and distributed a light cream throughout my hair and placed a bonnet over my head 
• Went to sleep 

5 minutes 

Results? 

After doing yoga and meditation

Utilizing Technology

Technology is the minimalists' best friend. Use your laptop as a calendar, organizer, planner, notepad, photo album etc. It will allow you to de-clutter some of the old notebooks and planners you have laying around your desk. Make sure you back up your files on a hard drive but it's a worthy investment. You will save a lot more money, time and space in the long run.

Initially I was weary of devices that replace the actually experience of reading a book but I came around. The Kindle for example is a great way to buy and organize your favorite books and allows you to save money and space. I wouldn't completely substitute the Kindle for the paperback or hardcover but for the most part, it is a bit more environmentally friendly.

Technology does allow us to keep our workspace clean and free of clutter. Who really wants to break their back carrying around a million books when you can literally store the same amount in a paper thin Kindle/iPad/laptop.

Nneka - Heartbeat (Live In Philly) HD

Minimalists We Love

Nneka 

Quotes for the Minimalist

 “In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple.”

- Lao Tzu  

Minimalism: How to Become a Minimalist

I strive for this kind of simplicity in my life

1. Start by letting go of the unnecessary items that are taking up space and you rarely ever use 
2. Only buy things you need. Stop buying things you do not need
3. As far as clothing goes, start mixing and matching. You don't need to buy a new outfit for every occasion 
4. Clean your floors make sure you don't have random items laying around
5. Donate old items and clothing that you do not use to a thrift shop
6. Emotionally let go of material items
7. Give away old bottles of hair products that you do not use and clean up your bathroom space!

These are some basic steps you can take towards a minimalist life style.

The Natural Minimalist: Working out with your Natural

Working out and having a natural can be a pain in the butt. You have to wash it more often to get the dirt and salt out of your scalp but you also understand that it’s the middle of the winter and you don’t want to walk outside when it’s 20 degrees with wet hair. Here is what I suggest:

Nighttime Routine

1. Co-wash your hair in the evening after your workout or every 2-3 days 
2. Pat it with a T-shirt to get the excess water out 
3. Do chunky twists using a light cream and some oil (use a wide tooth comb only no Denman brush please*)
4. Sleep on it with a bonnet or scarf tied lightly around hair

Total time: 15-20 min 

Morning Routine

1. Wake up and untwist: your hair will be dry for the most part
2. Grab large sections and blow dry the roots while stretching hair (on a low setting please)
3. Style or wear it out

Total time: 10 min

*Denman brushes should be used on occasion to avoid breakage

Weight loss and good skin

It’s a 2 in 1 deal so you can’t go wrong with this. 

Try substituting all your juices for water and you’ll notice a significant change in two weeks. Cut soda out completely (it gives you gas anyway so what’s the point).

So you fell asleep in class again...

Do you find yourself always tired during the day even after you got over 9 hours of sleep the night before?

Let me let you in on a little secret…

Consistency is key. Now I’m no scientist (history and political science major) but I have found that the key to reducing drowsiness during the day is to be consistent about your bed time and wake up time. Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning (with an emphasis on the latter). Even if you do find yourself staying up past your chosen bed time the key is to continue to wake up at the same time. Don’t try to oversleep because you feel like you need the extra hours. Your body works over time to adjust to such changes and will therefore lead to exhaustion. 

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga Benefits: 

1. Lowers blood pressure
2. Reduces anxiety
3. Relaxes muscles allowing you to sleep better
4. Promotes flexibility

De-Cluttering Relationships

I stressed in an earlier post about the importance of de-cluttering your relationships. We all know too well that we are constantly carrying around a bag full of unnecessary and parasitic relationships so now its time to get rid of that garbage. This is one of the hardest things to do because it forces you to sit down and evaluate the value of the relationships you have forces you let go of old friends which are more so like the expired cream cheese in your refrigerator which you know you will never use again yet you hold on to it anyway because you don’t want to be wasteful. We are all guilty of hoarding. But listen, if you want to get rid of the smell, start new and fresh and make room on the shelf for new ideas and a healthier lifestyle you must get rid of that baggage. As you already know by now I love bullet point and making lists, here are some of the simple ways that you can de-clutter some of the relationships in your own life. 

1. Do you have a Facebook/Twitter/Myspace or all of the above? Try limiting your use of social networking sites to one site 
2. Start sorting through you friend list and c

Eliminating Stress

I am sure you are all aware of the many diseases and health defects that plague the black community and even more specifically, black women. We tend to be more susceptible to disease and have a higher chance of fatality as a result. The reason for this is not because genetically, this is our destiny but more due to the fact that we tend to have more external factors that create stress in our lives. It is proven fact that stress lowers our immune system and as a result, our bodies are not fighting the diseases that plague our lives. Due to the fact that many of us are working women, we do not put an emphasis on leisure activities that contribute to eliminating stress. Ladies, we must set aside 20-30 minutes a day in order to de-stress. Find an activity that you enjoy and commit to it starting three times a week and gradually integrate it in to your daily routine. Here are some ideas:

• Running, Jogging
• Swimming 
• Bike, Elliptical 
• Yoga
• Meditation 
• Walking 
• Hiking

Remember don't over schedule your activities and make time for YOU!!

The Dangers of a Single Story - Chimamanda Adichie

For the girl who has too much to do

Never just wake up and start your day without some careful planning. Grab a notebook, planner or calendar and list everything you need to do for the day and check each task off upon completion. Always set aside at least 30 minutes a day to tidy up your living space and clear your mind. I promise, the environment has a huge impact on your state of mind. 

• Make up your bed 
• Throw away receipts, papers you don't need etc. 
• Put all bottles, hair products, jewelry in it's proper place
• When your things are out of place then so are you 
• Wash the dishes, take out the trash 
• Open the window and let the sun shine in
• Put books on the book shelf
• Place clothes in closet or in the hamper 

15-20 minutes 

When your done clearing your mind and space

• Grab your note book and sit down at your tidy desk with a cup of tea and PLAN. 
• Write down everything you need to do for to day including leisure activities and breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• I usually divide it by assignments and schedule (what are the things you need to get done and when do you plan on doing it?) 
• Now start your day and get it done

I Will Teach for America

So much for simplicity...

My friend told me to listen to this song today. Ambitious Girl by WALE, or however he chooses to spell his name. She says I'm always busy and and on the go. She says even when I give hugs they are short and quick and then I'm on the move again. She made me feel like this cold and distant person that has become incapable of finding love. This song bothers me because WALE ends up talking about how much he admires this "ambitious girl" how much he wants to be with her over the unambitious girl he's with and more importantly how he even wants to be a part of her hopes and dreams. Only one problem. He has never met her and according to the song, he's probably never going to meet her.

Do I want to find love? Certainly. Do I want to find it now? No. I have no time to be fussing around with relationships.  I can barely find the time to get four pitiful hours of sleep.