Feet hurt?

Hi I hope everyone is doing well today!!!
well today I am going to blog about heels...
yes we all have a love hate relationship our heels.




The New Trend is super Sexy Sky-high Heels
anything from stilettos to platforms are getting higher and higher.
the height usually range from 3-7 inch heels.


The History of the Stiletto Heel The word stiletto originates from the Italian word for dagger and a true stiletto heel is considered to be 3 ½ inches or higher. women's heels were originally made from wood lol we have come a long way!




Our feet endure strain from walking, standing, running, all these activities are killers when wearing heels.
our joints, muscles and ligaments in our feet endure wear and tear beyond what we can't even imagine, particularly in women who ♥ heart♥ their heels.
So ladies look at it like this, about 75%of our our body weight is shifted to the ball of the foot when we rock three-inch heels, compared to about 20% when we rock one-inch heels.
As a result, women who are constantly in heels are especially prone to foot problems and
calf muscle issues (charlie horse) ouch!


When the balls of the feet are overloaded with extra weight and squeezed into narrow shoes,
the tissue around the many nerves that run between the bones in the forefoot get thickened and damaged. This is most common between the third and fourth toes joints, which means you end up with pain, numbness and often an electric shock-like feeling to these toes.

Bunions
Those ugly protruding bones that you may see on the side of some women's feet, just below their big toes are bunions. This is when the big toe is pushed against the lessor toes causing the base of the 1st toe joint to protrude outwards Habitually squeezing your feet into an ill-fitted toe box that is narrower than the widest point of your foot will cause it to gradually take on the same shape of the shoe.


This article came from the Dallas news
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-millerhealthnotes_01bus.ART.State.Edition1.3797c25.html
Dr. John Coen, an orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, Texas, says that keeping up with the latest fashion trends could lead to permanent pain.
Two, three and four-inch heels can not only be uncomfortable, but also may lead to long-term health problems, he said.
"There have been a number of studies that demonstrate that high heels have a profound effect on your feet and ankles and also on your back," he said, adding that there's new research suggesting they can damage knee joints as well.
"Especially when the heels are over an inch and a half, the studies indicated that there were marked increases in strain in the front of the knee, in the area around the knee cap and also in the medial compartment of the inside portion of the knee, which interestingly enough are the areas where we most commonly see knee complaints," Dr. Coen said.
"The foot is designed to be walked on when it's flat, so when you put three-inch heels underneath it, it's going to change things."
But shoes don't need to be completely flat.
"I encourage people to look critically at their shoes and make sure that they're comfortable, especially if they're going to walk long distances," Dr. Coen says. "If you're going to wear something that's stylish, be sure to limit the amount of time that you pursue style over substance."
If that's not enough to worry you, he also says that wearing high heels for extended periods over the long term can lead to arthritis.



I love this picture lol I have felt this way many times..

Ok so why do we wear heels, even thoe we know the down side of it?
Here is the top reasons women wear heels.

1.they change the angle of the foot with respect to the lower leg, which accentuates the appearance of calves

2.they change the wearer's posture, requiring you to walk upright.

3.it is considered a seductive fashion.

4.they make the wearer appear taller.

5.they make the legs appear longer.

6.they make the foot appear smaller.

7.they make the arches of the feet appear higher and better defined.

8.they make the lower leg muscles more defined.

9.they make the wearer look flexibly strong.




SO YOUR FEET HURT?

Tips that heel lol...

1. wear your heels for the shortest amount of time as possible.

shoe bags they come in many styles :o)

2. Keep a pair of comfortable one-inch heels or tennis shoes :) with you, you can carry a shoe bag or just keep the shoes in your car.
I do this all the time i have flip flops, tennis shoes ect in my truck so when ever i need to walk long distances or grocery shop at wal mart,
i switch my shoes out.
black flip flops are the best because they will go with anything.

3. pick shoes that have broad heels for stability, make sure they are almost as wide as your feet. for extra comfort, platforms are the best type of heel because they are basically even all the way around.

4. Look out for shoes that are made of leather as this natural material will stretch slightly to accommodate your foot.

5. when all else fails and you want to still rock your 6inch stilettos then throw some
dr. scholls inserts, they have a wide variety of shapes to fit any style of shoes.
I wear d.s a lot they really make heels more bearable, but they only stay comfortable for up to 5hrs then I'm ready to just sit still lol.





6. the best tip of all ..............

REMEMBER YOUR BALANCE LOL!

peace!

get the right flat iron!

Hi everyone I hope all is well!!! it's been a few days, so today I'm going to blog about flat irons, and which ones work best on African American hair.


Finding the right flat iron can be a daunting task, so I want to help give you some tips to keep in mind when shopping for your next flat iron!

No matter what type of hair you have, you will be able to straighten your hair with a flat iron. In fact, even if you have very coarse African American hair, you do not need to relax your hair to get it straigthen. you will need is to choose a good flat iron that works well with African American hair.

The best flat irons for African American hair have a few things in common:


The first is that they must have ceramic or titanium plates. These plates will be smooth and won’t tug or tear at the hair. ceramic plates offer moist heat which helps to straighten the hair from the inside out, moist heat is a lot gentler on coarse hair.


Another very important feature that you will need to look for is making sure that your flat iron utilizes the power of tourmaline. Tourmaline is a naturally occurring element that has been found to be an amazing source of negative ions.

As the iron plates pass across the hair, the negative ions enter each individual hair shaft, sealing each hair cuticle. By sealing each hair cuticle, your hair retains its natural oils and shine, allowing it to be healthier than ever before. Also, because each hair cuticle is closed, the hair lays flat against the head instead of looking frizzy and standing up all over the place which is a common complaint for African American’s who straighten their hair.

You want the end result to be sexy, sleek hair, not frizzy damaged looking hair. This is why tourmaline is so important in a flat iron. The tourmaline keeps your hair looking straight, and it will also be softer and more manageable than ever before.

Another feature that you will need to look for when you are searching for the best flat irons for African American hair is temperature control.
Do not choose a iron that only has one setting because this is not a one size fits all solution.
I can't tell you how many woman argue about this and it really should be should be common sense.

(her hair has been singed by a curling iron)

If you can not control the temperature of your flat iron, it can cause a lot of damage to your hair.
As we know not all of our hair is the same texture or hair grade so just because 425 degrees works on a particular section of hair, don't be surprised if it singes another part of your hair....
This is why temperature control is very important especially, if you are transitioning because you have 2 different hair textures, your relaxed ends can not withstand, as much heat as your natural roots, so you will need to switch the temperature so you do not damage your ends.

Please remember when you relax your hair, your hair is in it's weakest state, because the bonds of the hair shaft are broken, so if you are using a fhi that is 450 degree on your relaxed hair,
it can become very damaged and break off.

(hair that has been damaged by heat under a microscope)

Most African American hair needs a higher heat setting, but before you crank up the temperature, start low and work your way up, because every person has different hair and you do not want to apply a high heat if you don’t have to.

Well we all know that heated appliances can dry our hair out, causing it to become damaged
If not used properly, heated appliances can cause the hair to become brittle, thin, and break excessively. So heated tools should be limited, we can still incorporate them into our regimen,
but we need to remember a few things.....

(damaged hair from heat styling tools)



Always flat iron hair that is clean!!! make sure hair has been washed and deep conditioned.
When you flat iron or curl your hair, the heat strips some of the moisture out of your hair.
Deep conditioning is very important in keeping moisture locked into your hair.

If you flat iron dirty hair, the dirt and grime can get sealed in to the hair shaft, on top of that
dirt and product build-up can damage the ceramic plates as well as weigh down your hair :(

Make sure to always use a heat protectant on your hair,
use it when blow drying, flat ironing or curling your hair!!!

these are a few of my favorite
heat protectants.

you can get this at sally's for 6.99
(no alcohol)


this is my 2nd favorite
it's cost 14.99 at target,
it works and smells so good.
(no alcohol)



chi silk fusion is the best in my opinion it is alcohol free
the smell sucks, but it gets the job done the big bottle is $23
at target, but i got mine online for $13


I have never used fhi hot sauce the package is adorable :) and a lot of people swear by it,
but i didn't get it because the ingredients suck! this product is filled with all types of alcohol and as we know alcohol is very drying and it is not good to mix alcohol and heat.
so before you by a heat protectant make sure to check out all of the ingredients!!


peace :)

Body Image

Hey everyone I'm here to blog about, body image and how we sometimes see ourselves.
Body image is how you see your self, it also ties in with self esteem, some people see them several a certain way, while others see them a whole different way.







So ladies when you look in the mirror, what do you see? Your perception of how your body looks forms your body image. Interestingly, a perfectly-toned 20 year old fitness model could have a very poor body image, while an average-shaped 50 year old man or woman could have a great body image. Regardless of how closely your actual figure resembles your perception, your body image can affect your self-esteem, your eating and exercise behaviors, and your relationships with others.




WAYS TO CONTROL BAD BODY IMAGE:

http://www.medicinenet.com/beauty_and_body_image/article.htm
Stop negative self-talk immediately. While you still may not like what you see in the mirror, learning to describe yourself with neutral, objective phrases can help stop the cycle of poor self-esteem. So, instead of saying to yourself I have really ugly thighs, say I think My thighs could use some work.

Find and focus on the things you like about your looks. It's best not to link your looks to your self-esteem, but with body image so intimately entwined with self-image, that can be hard to do. The next best thing is to find something about your image you really like. "It can be great hair, great nails, terrific teeth. Find the things about yourself you can say something good about, and every time you look in the mirror, go there first and say something positive to yourself,"

Treat yourself with the same kindness and respect you show your best friend. "Would you respect and care about a person who says about you what you are saying about yourself? If the answer is no, then begin treating yourself at least as well as you are treating others in your life," says May.


Say what you mean. Sometimes, hating your thighs is all about wanting thinner thighs. But sometimes, Kaufman says, negative body thoughts are a way of expressing discontent over other issues in your life. Learn to decode these messages, she says.

Dress the part. If you're putting off buying new clothes until you like your body better don't! Whether you're bursting at the seams in duds that are too tight or swimming in over sized clothing to hide your body, you are eroding your self-esteem.

Buy what fits you, and look the very best you can. It sends a powerful message to yourself that you are worth it.Recognize that people naturally come in different shapes and sizes, and cherish your body's uniqueness.




SOME fACTS, THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW:

Remember ladies only 2% of the world's women fall into the supermodel category.
so don't beat your self up, if your measurements are not similar to that of Jessica white!







In 1970 the average age of a girl who started dieting was 14; by 1990 the average dieting age fell to 8.In a study of almost five hundred schoolgirls, 81% of the ten-year-olds reported that they had dieted at least once.






Another study of mass media magazines discovered that women’s magazines had 10.5 times more advertisements and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines did.

A study of one teen adolescent magazine over the course of 20 years found that in articles about fitness or exercise plans, 74% cited “to become more attractive” as a reason to start exercising and 51% noted the need to lose weight or burn calories,







Young girls are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of nuclear war, cancer,
or losing their parents.





The average woman’s dress size is 14 and the average mannequin’s dress size is 6 or lower.""The average American woman is 5'4" tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5'11" tall and weighs 117 pounds. Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women."





I believe that young girls and many women, my self included have had body issues due to the constant images that we are feed by TV shows, movies, magazines,music videos ect.
we are taught at an early age that our bodies are never good enough.....

if your less then a c-cup you need to consider getting breast implants, if your ass doesn’t look like j-lo or Buffy then you need to get butt implants.

if your tummy isn't a 6 pack, then lipo is recommend.

thin lips? plum them with collagen!
oh and don't forget if your over weight then gastric bypass is a must!

The images that are being feed to us are very unrealistic, but unfortunately since our favorite Celebs have fallen victim, to the Hollywood standard of beauty how can we fault women for not being happy with themselves, if Celebs and regular people are constantly running to the plastic surgeon office for a nip and tuck, then why are we shocked that girls who haven’t even developed yet are insecure about their body.

Many American woman are striving for a unrealistic perfection of beauty,
We need to change our way of thinking and talk to the young ladies in our community and let them know that their is nothing wrong with their bodies, regardless if they are fat, thin or in between.
There is no such thing as perfection, true beauty lies with in, remember no matter how much work you get done to your face and body it does not always mean that you will be truly happy.


Since the early days of Hip-Hop videos, there have been sexualized images of black women.
In the past 4 years there has been a shift on how these women look, the ass is the new fashion accessory lol now if it's natural then "shake what ya mama gave ya" lol j/k no one should be aspiring to be a video vixen it's a very short lived career.


Buffy the body, and a few others helped to put the ghetto booty on the national map,
many others have tried to follow suite, but they weren't born with that much junk in their trunk, so now many women are going to all time lows and involving them selves in dangerous pumping parties and even flying all the way overseas to get these injections.

Unfortunately it’s really getting ridiculous some women like lola luv have chosen to go so big that it doesn't even match their shape.

unfortunately quite a few young girls look up to many of these women, they too are aspiring to become video vixens, but in order to be a vixen you need to have a particular shape so since some young ladies do not have the ideal "video vixen shape" they are now turning to dangerous things like pumping parties.

I have heard of girls injecting them selves with water, baby oil, cooking oil, and even regular silicone that is meant for window treatment,
there have been several cases of women and transgender men dying from such behavior if you don't believe that this is going, GOOGLE!



To each it's own, but what I am basically saying is ladies love your self!
love what God blessed you with, you never know what is actually being injected in to your body it could kill you instantly, or 5 years from now. So just be careful nothing is worth your life, don't try to fit some type of unrealistic standard of beauty it is not worth your life.

Be safe take care!
ti





Buffy the body 36C-26-44
a lot of people say she has injections,
but who knows.






Lola luv has breast and butt implants
34C, 22, 40








lola recently cut her hair, but her
butt is still growing lol.



yes there is a such thing, as a bad butt job lol!



this lady was on the channel 8 news
talking about how her butt implants went bad lol.







Here are just a few Celebs who have turn to plastic surgery
the names and faces are endless.

kelly rowland: i think she looked just fine before.



beyonce has really grown :)




amarie doesn't even look like the same person.
after her nose job.








Baywatch's Traci Bingham's nose job, this seems to be a common practice
among many African American women in the entertainment industry.



when surgery go's bad all i can do is shake my head
at Micheal and lil' Kim :( they looked just fine before.

here go's a pumping party story:
http://www.piercemattie.com/blogs/2006/12/pumping_parties_a_deadly_trend.html

Pumping Parties: A Deadly Trend That is Increasing in Popularity.

How To Look Fabulous At Your Funeral!
A few nights ago I was watching a show regarding “Pumping Parties.” I was really quite blown out of the water when hearing about these parties and how they continue to increase in popularity despite the inherent risks. A pumping party is when you are invited to a host’s home and everyone is injected with silicone in the parts of the body they want to see rapid results. They pay hundreds of dollars to the injectee, who has no medical training, versus the sometimes costly price of plastic surgery and Botox. Many see this as an easier and less costly way to obtain pseudo plastic surgery results.
Pumping parties have been around for a while (and are illegal), but as the demand for physical perfection continues to daunt us, the popularity of these parties increases. What many people attending these parties don’t understand is that silicone injected that is not medical grade or done by a board certified plastic surgeon, is just plain deadly. Silicone that is injected improperly travels through the bloodstream and causes blood to coagulate in the lungs, creating circulatory obstructions that can be immediately life-threatening if not identified and treated quickly according to the Radiological Society of North America. The imaging findings of pulmonary silicone embolism include dark, hazy patches in the lung tissue on x-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.
If you are invited to a pumping party, please know the risks involved. While your results may be immediate and the price tag associated with it may be attractive, any cosmetic procedures should be done soley by a plastic surgeon. While you may be saving yourself some money in the short-term, isn’t your long term overall health priceless?

Take care, of the skin your in!

Hey everyone, I hope all is well, just here to blog about what I use on my face I get this question
All the time on you tube so here it is.


I have been using Neutrogena for the past 4 years, and I have never had any issues with it,
It helps to keep my skin clear and smooth with out drying it out like unlike other skin cleansers.
Well I recently ran out of this and I decided to get the new pink grape fruit cleanser.


Well at 1st it was kind of rough due to the micro beads
But once I added some water it made it a lot more bearable,
Well I loved it!!! It left my skin feeling so soft and smooth, my skin was nourished
and best of all it smells wonderful!!! it really wakes you up in the morning so,
I would recommend this to anyone, both types of Neutrogena work wonderfully
It will just depend on if you like micro beads or not.
another natural way to exfoliate skin is to mix a little bit of regular sugar
with your favorite face wash, I do this at least 1x a month, because my skin is sensitive,
but it is important to exfoliate skin, because this removes dead skin cells that may be clogging up your pores.



What type of skin do you have?

Sensitive skin:

Sensitive skin, may get red, irritated, dry or itchy, and this can be caused by a skin-care product, the environment or stress, as well as genetics. If you have sensitive skin, look for products that are fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested after you're sure your skin is sensitive.


Oily Skin:

Oily Skin that looks oily, feels greasy to touch and is prone to blackheads and pimples is known as oily skin.It is imperative to keep oily skin clean and to control the excess secretion of oil.On the positive side, oily skin tends to age more gradually as compared to other skin types, as natural oil protects oily skin from fine lines and wrinkles.A simple but regular skin-care programme coupled with a well-balanced, healthy diet helps manage oily skin and minimises skin break-outs.

Dry skin:

Dry skin looks dry, ashy and sometimes flakes, it often feels tight, especially if you have washed it with soap and water. Sometimes it is lacking some of the protective sebum and so it reacts to very hot and very cold weather by tightening up.


skin care tips:
Summer can really do a lot of harm to black skin!
unfortunately, some people do not know how care for their skin properly....

1. Cleansing
To keep your complexion glowing it is recommended to cleanse your face thoroughly twice a day regularly. The best time for doing this is in the morning and just before bedtime in the evening. Make sure you choose a facial cleanser that is compatible with your skin type (oily, dry, combination, or normal).
Never use hot water when cleaning your face because it dries out skin.
Use oil-free cleansers if you have an oily skin.
Use moisturizing cleansers if you have dry skin.


2. Moisturizing
Moisturizing your skin is very important and it helps to protect your skin, regardless of which type or brand used. Water-based and oil free moisturizers are best for oily skin.
I use shea butter on my skin, this helps a lot as far as keeping my skin well hydrated and smooth, cocoa butter is also wonderful as well, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have oily skin.

3. Exfoliating
Exfoliating is beneficial to all skin types, but especially with black oily skin. Ridding yourself of dead skin cells that block your pores promotes healthy looking skin.

4. Skin Protection
Having fun outdoors is always on the top of the agenda during the summer months, but what most Black women don't realize is that regardless of the amount of melanin or pigment in our skin, long term exposure to ultraviolet rays can put us at a higher risk for melanoma (skin cancer) Be sure to check your skin regularly for any unusual spots or blemishes.
Also, wearing hats, sunglasses is very fashionable and cool, and keep in mind that wearing light colored clothing reflects the sun's rays and helps to keep black skin safe and cool.
Most important: Always wear a high quality sun block all year long,
not just during the summer months.
the type of sunscreen I use is, banana boat spf 70! I mix this with my shea butter cream.


5. Nourishment
Nourishment from the inside out, taking care of your skin from the outside is great but remember, it is equally as important for you to take care of your skin from the inside. Your diet and your lifestyle plays a large role in your skins condition.

Avoid Excess Sugar:
Most people do not realize this but excess sugar is one of the main causes of premature aging. that is why alot of people who drink gallons of pop tend to break out a lot, the sugar from the pop is the culprit, water is one of the best ways to achieve a smooth flawless complexion.


like the old saying go's you are what you eat!
here are some food that can really benefit your skin.


SWEET POTATOES, TOMATOES, CANTALOUPE
What they do: Replenish your skin’s supply of antioxidants, so they're ready to scarf up free radicals whenever they make an appearance. Free rads are highly reactive oxygen molecules that damage cells and contribute to just about everything that can go wrong with skin, from dryness to wrinkles.


Your body can’t store much wrinkle-fighting vitamin C, so you need to keep your supplies stocked. The easiest, simplest way: Have some citrus every day or take vitamin c vitamin:)

ORANGES, LEMONS, LIMES, and GRAPEFRUIT,
are the top vitamin C source but you can only eat so many, right? For variety, make lemonade, squeeze limes on melon, add grapefruit to salad, and instead of drinking soda, fizz up OJ with sparkling water. It all adds up.
What they do: these fruits keep skin’s vitamin C levels high and it helps keeps collagen, which are the supportive protein fibers that stop skin from sagging, so since collagen breakdown starts around your mid-30s, eating citrus can help fight the signs of aging yeahhhhh!



Certain dark leafy greens, whether they’re fresh, frozen, raw, or steamed, really deliver on vitamin A, one of the most skin-essential vitamins!
SPINACH, TURNIP GREENS, BROCCOLI, Deliver a hefty supply of vitamin A, which supports skin cell turnover, the process that keeps cell growth and development humming along flawlessly. Without enough A, skin becomes dry, tough, and scaly.

Now for my favorite sea food,
SALMON, TROUT, TUNA, ATLANTIC MACKEREL, SARDINES, PACIFIC HERRING, MOST SHELLFISH have wonderful amounts of omega-3s which are excellent are for skin "and the rest of your body too" Omega-3s fight inflammation, and is considered one of the top skin-agers, they also help protect against sunburn, enhancing the effects of your SPF sunscreen.
Protein is required to build and repair skin cells and to make enzymes and hormones that help keep it glowing.

so wash up and eat healthy and you too can have naturally beautiful, healthy, glowing skin.
peace!!