Dream Harder, Darling.

[purplebuddhaproject]

https://www.instagram.com/pbuddhaproject/

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

When u finally realize no matter what you do it comes down to your diet and what you use to fuel your body. Getting ready to embark on the whole30 in 2 weeks. Prepping for the challenge!!

-Madison

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

2017 Hair Goals

This year I'm so determined to reach bra stap length. This was my terminal length when i had chemically straightened hair. I will be natural for 2 years in September.  To reach this hair length I will continue current hair practices and incorporate pre-pooing (se DIY Natural Home Remedies post) every week.

Current hair care regimen includes the following:

Weekly deep condition

Monthly protein treatment

Monthly elasticity treatment 

Biweekly conditioning

Trim and shaping every 6-9 months

I style my hair in a wash n go 95% of the time. The other 5% I experiment with twist outs, braid outs, buns, and other styles.

I have also started to take low dose biotin. 1000 MCG per day and just titrated to 2000 mcg per day. Biotin causes my skin to break out so i will slowly titrate the dose.

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

DIY Natural Home Remedies

The weekend is a perfect time for some self love and care. I LOVE a natural diy concoction. For the last couple of weeks I experimented with the following:

Acne:

Lemon and honey mask.

Take sliced lemon and rub over entire clean face and then rub honey on your face. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. This seems to have improved my adult acne more than expensive cleansers and toners.

Hair:

Prepoo using aloe vera leaf and olive oil mix.

Cut aloe vera leaf and slice open to reveal aloe vera gel. Apply gel to scalp and then massage scalp using olive oil mix* (mix can contain your favorite oils). Apply oils and aloe vera gel to length of hair and twist hair. Leave in overnight. Shampoo, condition, and style the following day. I can't confirm the hair growth benefits as I’ve only done it the last 2 weeks, but it makes detangling and shampooing naturally curly hair much more feasible.

*My olive oil mix contains Jamaican black castor oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and lavender oil

-Madison

[riffatmatinpoetry]

My mind and body deserve to be treated better.

Affirmation of the day.  (via riffatmatinpoetry)

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

It’s been a minute.  Wellness update and new challenge!!

Wow it’s been a minute since I’ve posted here. Sad to say this is my first post of 2017. But now I’m back and ready more than ever to get back on my wellness journey.

Quick updates:

November 2016 I completed my first ever 15k- The Hot Chocolate Chicago. I trained summer long and achieved my goal of finishing under 90 minutes. A lot of revelations came from training and running this race.  The main “AHA” moment being I don't like long distance running. I don't get the runner’s high, I don't feel this exhilaration after completing 8,9,10 miles. Training became a checklist.  I find running to be too monotonous, plus my body adapts to running very quickly and I plateau. From my experience I didn't lose any weight nor did I feel any better. However, I had obvious improvements in my cardiovascular fitness.  Soo will I do a long distance race again?? I really can't say, I won't rule it out, but not anytime soon.

Sooo what am I doing now?

I like  combination of exercises and just recently ventured into yoga. i must apologize to all the yogis out there because I incorrectly thought yoga wasn't an intense workout. But it does get the heart rate elevated!! My current routine includes spinning, yoga/pilates, and strength training 3-4 times per week. I started this routine in february 2017 recently fell off for 2 weeks and Im looking to get back on it this week.

I will also be embarking on the whole30 starting May 8th. I will be documenting every week on the whole30 once per week here on the blog.  Personally my reasons for doing the whole30 is for energy, overall well-being, and clearing up my skin.  I also want to make conscious and healthy food choices going forward in my wellness journey as I am now in my early 30s. I have purchased the book, It Starts With Food to help educate and prepare myself for the whole30. I will also prepare my meal plan 1 for the entire month prior to starting the whole 30 and will post it here as well.

2017 for me is still focusing on my physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental wellbeing.  Being the best version of myself!!

[blackfitnessrocks]

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

Hair Goals 2016 and Hair Product Staples

Its a new year, but I’m not into the new year, new me BS.  I started my natural hair journey around Sept 2014 when I had my last relaxer. I really didn't know I was on a hair journey though and ended up getting 2- protein straightening systems between the end of 2014 and April 2015.  I want to say I seriously began my health hair journey May  2015, when I started to do more research on natural hair. I completely gave up heat and have not straightened my hair since April 2015. I maintained consistent good hair practices for the remainder of 2015 and began protective styling with wigs near the end of the year.

Well now its 2016 and I want to carry my current hair practices and adopt more into my regimen to target my very ambitious goal of BSL by 12/31/15. You know what they say shoot for the stars and if you reach the moon its still all good!! Im currently at shoulder length- hitting the clavicle.  I was relaxed for 14 years and had BSL length or MBL length most of my life. So it has been done and I’m hoping with my current regimen I can hit BSL within the year. Prior to starting my healthy hair journey- I did absolutely nothing to my hair and I mean absolutely nothing.  I went to the salon monthly and thats it. I didn’t own any hair products- just shampoo/conditioner and hair spray. 

So my plan for 2016:

Protective styling until the spring with wigs.

Weekly to biweekly deep conditioning

Monthly light protein treatment

Monthly shampoo with ACV rinse

LOC* method weekly

Spritz hair twice daily

Healthy diet and exercise

Drinking plenty of water 2-3 liters a day

Staple products:

Ouidad curl recovery meltdown mask

Eva Nyc deep conditioner

She moisture Jamaican black castor oil leave-in

DIY Shea butter mix  (raw shea butter + coconut oil + jamaican black castor oil)

Sheamoisture’s coconut and hibiscus curl enhancing smoothie and hold and shine moisture spray

*LOC method includes layering of the following on the hair=  Leave-in (Sheamoisture JBCO leave-in conditioner) + Oil (DIY shea butter mix) + cream (sheamoisture curl enhancing smoothie).

-Madison

[classiclinds-deactivated2024103]

[iamindyamarie]

Lowkey started crying

[butcallmecam]

“If you’re still writing about him a year later… You loved him.”

[divya-adu]

Damn .

[kacysimplylove-deactivated20180]

..😔

[noclipnigga]

Big support! She good yo!

[strivingking-deactivated2015122]

“Paper is the only way you two can have a conversation, even if he isn’t listening”

That line was dope.

[kaiiwooo-deactivated20180323]

This hit me really hard.

[n0kiv]

“Because you were the one always reaching out of bounds… How can you still be so moved by a ghost”

[tellyjpg]

chilllllssss WHO IS SHE

[karayray1-deactivated20230129]

I cried.

[influenc1al]

This fucking girl.

[readmyquiet]

I hate love poems. But this was cute. ✊🏾

[2opinionatedblackgirls]

She didn’t have to do a G like this 🙁🙁😔😔

[haelroyale-deactivated20190717]

“365 missed calls, missed texts, mistook you for permanent.”

[janedoelives]

@closedcaptioningprovided

[laihcen]

I just need to know who she is

[classiclinds-deactivated2024103]

It me

[mihngdynasty]

@classiclinds - honey, you are a force to be reckoned with 🙌🙏

[classiclinds-deactivated2024103]

Lol oh why thankyou mama 🙏🏾

[boringbengali]

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

Easier said than done, but fears will consume you with or without your permission.

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

Don't limit yourself by over committing yourself.

[alwaysbewoke]

to all those black men and women who have lost their damn minds, listen.

[thr0atmistress-deactivated20191]

My favorite movie.

[ikesh-deactivated20180318]

This movie is about Wiley College

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

Deep

[quotemadness]

Breathe. It’s only a bad day, not a bad life.

Johnny Depp (via quotemadness)

[grunge-top]

[incalescentheart]

the trouble is that you think you have time

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

And my dear, we know we’re both running out of time.

[radicalmuscle-deactivated-2019]

Some people will find you attractive, others won’t.

That’s normal.

[radicalmuscle-deactivated-2019]

Also don’t let romantic let downs get you down. It just means they weren’t compatible with you/could not appreciate you.

And never put too much focus on trying to get into a relationship. Doing so causes you to act outside of your normal state which could actually prevent you from getting involved with someone.

Relationships may be highly desired thanks to society and media, but your relationship status does not determine your level of happiness.

[bookaholic2015]

I really needed this. Thanks @radicalmuscle

[radicalmuscle-deactivated-2019]

Of course. Glad it could help a bit.

[blackfitandfab]

Look at this beautiful soul giving amazing advice! Thanks @radicalmuscle

[ambitiouslyeducatedundrrespected]

Necessary perspective.