Artist Madrid, Naturally

Sorry, it has been a busy few days. I wanted to tell you that I had a good experience getting my hair straightened. Like I mentioned before, I hadn't had my hair flat-ironed in a long time. Partly because I was afraid of heat damage and also because last time I had it done, I was in tears! The tugging of my roots and heat "burning" my scalp was more then I could handle. This time I found someone who specializes in blowouts and straightening natural hair. Now with kinks like mine, I figured there would still be some discomfort, so I took some ibprouefen before the three-hour process started. Yes, three hours! Shampoo Deep Conditioning Drying and detangling with blow dryer Dry roots (my hair is very absorbent/porous) Separate hair into small sections and flat- iron Trim ends Bump the ends of my hair Admire my new do People have been telling me that this is such a great look for me and I should keep getting my hair straighten. Even though I appreciate the compl...

As I type this, I am getting my hair straightened!!! Temporarily, of course : ) This will be the first time in my then a year... So, as soon as I get done, I will post pics of my new do and share my experience. Till then... UPDATE:

We are officially in Spring!!! To celebrate, I wanted to share some inspirational Springtime quotes: "No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."  ~Proverb "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."   ~Anne Bradstreet “Despite the forecast, live like it's spring.”   ~Lilly Pulitzer I know it can seem too difficult at times but hang in there you guys! Discover more at: http:// www.quotegarden.com/spring.html http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/spring.html http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/spring

So, is it possible to eat healthy on a budget? My answer is “Yes!” and here are my tips to make it happen: 1.) Picnic Time: In many places, the weather is slowly warming up. Pretty soon there will be someone somewhere grilling out every weekend. An invite can be a perfect opportunity to eat healthy for cheap. This is how it plays out: You bring a bag of chips (preferably a kind you do not like) or a simple dish. Then you head for the salad, other veggies, fresh fruit and grilled chicken. Perfect! And if you want to splurge a little, this is a perfect opportunity. Just make sure that before or after visiting the food tables, you head to the volley ball court or soccer field to burn the extra calories. The food part also works for inside get-togethers. Play living room soccer at your own risk. The Buddy System- Korean Style 2.) The Buddy System: Nowadays, many sit-down restaurants serve gigantic portions. More bang for your buck, right? Yes, and that doesn...

Today, I will present a question: When you are broke, is it possible to eat healthy? Friday, I will present my findings. Have a Wonderful Week! UPDATE: It is Friday and the jury is still out on this one. I figure I need a few more days before I make my decision. On Monday, I promise, I will present my findings. Have a Wonderful Weekend!

I found this tucked away somewhere and wanted to share: " So, lately I have been working on the quality of LOVE. Love of one’s self that is. Which is really hard for me because, as you know, I can be hard on myself. But I have been trying to be content and yet not complacent (also it’s hard for me to stay balanced). So we shall see what happens. BUT I AM learning: if I can be acceptant of myself, then it will be easier for me to accept others (their good parts & not-so-good parts). See it’s all about LOVE." -ArtistMadrid November 2011 So, more than a year later, how am I doing with this self-challenge? To be content and yet not complacent? I must say I feel I am on the right track. For instance: Since then I have accepted Lelola (my hair) and my body. I have also come to the conclusion, that I can be balanced and make healthy changes. To be acceptant of my flaws as well as others? I look back and see that I held very high standards acro...