Excited about fasting?!?!?!?

Yes, it's true. I'm excited about fasting for Lent. Maybe I won't be as excited 20 days from now lol, but right now I am pretty excited about it. 2010 has gotten off to a great start, and I am thankful to God for that. I am in need of spiritual renewal, and I just want to show my appreciation to Him/Her by abstaining from the things that I often take for granted. For me, fasting is about letting go of unimportant indulgences in exchamge for spiritual/emotional/mental abundance. I feel like that's something to be excited about :)

I will be abstaining from meat, dairy, swets, and alcohol. I thing that I am going to start by abstaining from meat and dairy, then each week eliminate something else. The week leading up to Easter (and my birthday!) I will abstain from everything except for water, fruit, vegetables, and beans/nuts. That means no meat, no sweets, no alcohol, no dairy. I am considering abstaining from sex as well. Most likely, I will decide to not have sex during those last two weeks leading up to Easter. This is going to be challenging, but I look forward to the rewards of it. I am sure my body will benefit from this. What is most important to me about fasting is that I am giving up my reliance on STUFF and shifting that reliance to God. THAT is exciting. I will keep you gys posted on my fast.

Brief hiatus...

In the process of relocating...haven't had much time to blog. My free time is spent looking for furniture, or most recently, a moving truck. That in addition to doing homework on the computer and I can't stand to look at the screen anymore...I will return to the world of blogging soon. Until then, hope you miss me! :) I have a hair update that is long overdue...I haven't even done my 3 month update, and I'm getting closer and closer to 4 months...smh.

Comparison picture: my weight in Fall 07 versus now

Here is a photo from Fall '07 with me wearing the orange. I was more toned at this time. This is what I want to get back to. In this picture I was about 197, possibly even 200 lbs. The way I carry my weight is interesting to me. I never think I look as big as the scale says. Anyway, this photo is my motivation. I thought I had gotten MUCH bigger, but after looking at both photos side by side I see that I'm not too bad. This picture is MOTIVATION! I also included the more recent picture so you can compare and contrast.
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kCurly's Challenge: Week One report

I got into the challenge a little lat, but I started making changes as soon as I decided to participate. Here is what I have done so far I have walked briskly every day...I have no choice. I commute to school on public transportation. The main reason I wanted to commute as opposed to living on campus is to force myself to walk more. I carry around a water bottle with me at all times. The bottle is huge. It is 1.5 liters. I also drink at least 2 glasses of water in addition to this bottle. (It's not even 1 yet and I am about 1/3 done with the bottle.) I take a multivitamin every day I have been snacking on healthy things (I slipped up at a friend's birthday party, but hey=it was a party. I'm back on track.) If I want chocolate, it has to be dark chocolate (since that's actually good for you) I didn't cut out carbs completely, but the carbs I do have are whole grain and I try to balance that with protein and vegetables No soda. Limit juice- if I have juice it is sugar free, 100% juice. Limit alcohol. I'm not a big drinker anyway, bu ti doesn't hurt to have that as a rule. Eat several times a day, consistently Get as much sleep as possible. These are the things I have done so far. This week I plan to step up my exercise game. Also, the only meat I am eating for the next two weeks (at least) is seafood. Tonight when I get home I am going to exercise, then make fish and some kind of vegetable. No bread. I have had enough carbs for the day already. Stay tuned...I am trying to do really well on this challenge, and I want to do it in a HEALTHY way. Next photo update will be at the end of this week.

The Beginning: KCurly's challenge

Measurable Factors- Height: 5′7 Weight: 210 Bust: 41 Waist: 33.5 Hips: 49 Thigh: 31 -Goals- THE PLAN: Walk briskly for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week Do vigorous exercise for at least 45 minutes no less than 3 times a week. Do strength training on alternate days and rest one day a week. Do something active on the weekends liek take a walk, take an exercise class or go hiking… Drink at least 64 oz. of water a day. Make my snacking work for me by snacking on fruit and/or vegetables instead of chips and cookies MY GOAL At the end of the challenge I would like to enroll in an intense 6 week bellydance course. WISH ME LUCK! http://runninginafatsuit.com/blog/2010/01/2010-jan-mar-challenge-lets-kick-it-off/#comments

locking and loving it!

I am loving this locking process! I know I haven't posted in a while...I have been really busy. I wanted to take a minute to tell you ladies and gentlemen what is going on with my hair. Well, I am almost 3 months into the locking process and I must say that I love it! It is really fitting into my lifestyle. I will admit that there was one week when I was not so pleased with my baby lock. I felt like I looked awkward as hell! But now I am more carefree. I don't stress over it, and I really just let it do its thing. I will style my hair occasionally, but for the rest of the month I am not going to style it at all. I am going to focus on keeping it moisturized and let it be. I will keep you posted on my hair. Check out my youtube channel for my update videos.

Happy New Year!!!

I was supposed to post this yesterday but I forgot. I spent the beginning of this year in a beautiful cabin in the mountains of Helen, GA, which is a Bavarian themed town in North GA. It was fantastic! The cabin is a secluded 3 bedroom 2 bath with a loft. It also has a hot tub. We (me, my boo, and two other couples) have been relaxing and enjoying each other's company.*

I want to wish all my readers and followers a prosperous 2010!!! May your businesses expand, your wealth increase and your hair reach new lengths! I am excited about the opportunities that await me in this year. What are you looking forward to this year?
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Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season! Spend quality time with loved ones and take time out for yourself as well. Give something back to the community...and never forget how blessed you are! Peace and love to all. End this year the right way and start the next one on a great note!
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Classy natural

Even with my baby locs in the VERY awkward stage, I managed to look presentable! Lol. Don't be discouraged by frizzy hair...experiment with different styles and techniques until you figure out what's best for your hair and your lifestyle.
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Foxy!

1 month loc update!

Dreadlock Chronicles III

I'm a style icon!

So head on over to BGLH and check me out :) http://bglhonline.com/2009/11/style-icon-jhavia/

Style tutorial

The style I like to wear is a combination twist out and bantu knot out. I actually experimented with the style before I started my locs and I loved how it came out so I tried it with my locs and it pretty much came out the same way. Here are the steps:

Start with freshly washed or damp hair.

Moisturize and apply any product that you use on your hair. I used coconut oil and glycerin.

Two strand twist hair all over. For locs, take two locs and twist them together.

Take 2 two strand twists and twist them together. Now you have a four strand twist.

Take that four strand twist and twist it until it coils on to itself, creating a bantu knot.

Repeat the process all over your head.

Now bantu knots are a style on their own, so I kept mine in for about 3 days.

Make sure your hair is completely dry before taking it loose. I recommend sitting under a dryer or letting it air dry.

Carefully undo each bantu knot and untwist each twist.

To get rid of the spaces caused by the parts rub your hands through your hair. I put a nickel sized amount of moisturizer on my hands before I did this.

*The good thing about this style is that, for me at least, it lasts longer than a twist out or bantu knot out because it produces a tighter curl. I do this process during the weekend, wear the bantu knots for a few days, then wear it loose the rest of the week.

Hope you try this style!
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My morning thoughts

I'm on the train right now, standing up. It isn't ridiculously crowded, but I really don't want to sit with a stranger. I'm not in a particularly great mood. This guy spoke to me this morning; i just knew he was about to segway into some pick up lines. When I responded to him I'm sure my voice reeked of my bad attitude. That makes me think of my math teacher. One day we were walking past one another and as she walked by she looked at me and said "Smile, why don't you?" or some shit like that. I wasn't against smiling, but as I go throughout my day I don't just walk around with a big ass smile on my face all day. In addition to that, am I not entitled to be in a bad mood sometimes? Damn. Everything is not peachy in my life, and I know it could be worse, but just because that's the case doesn't mean that I'm not at all worried or troubled. Another thing, I have said this many times before, but it continues to happen so it still gets on my nerves: I hate when people stare at me! It is rude as hell. I guess I'm just venting. I don't feel too great and Marta damn sure is not improving my mood or my health. Well maybe my health a little, since I walk more now (I don't have a choice). But that's not the point lol. The point is that I am not pleased with the day so far, and it just started. Maybe later I will feel better.

Multimedia message

I took a few camera phone pics after my shoot cause I was really feelin my look... My alias is Dreadlocked Pinup, and I think that's what I look like, even though my baby locs are too small to see. Whatever the case, the shoot was ridiculously great! Here are my camera phone pics:

Artist Loanne Hizo Ostlie Creates Genuinely Diverse Barbie Mods

Artist Loanne Hizo Ostlie Creates Genuinely Diverse Barbie Mods http://www.tabloach.com/gallery/custombarbie/gallery.html CHECK OUT THESE DIVERSE, CUSTOMIZED BARBIE DOLLS!

More photos by Tamara Madden

I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM!!! OK, I will try to calm down. I LOVE THEM! Tamara has skills, do you hear me???! This shoot came just in time. I was feeling a certain kinda way about my body, but this is a reminder that even though I am not at my ideal weight, I am still beautiful and my weight should not stop me from modeling. Thanks Tamara! It was a pleasure working with such a talented artist! Check me out in the Garden...Pangeas Garden Project http://thepangaeasgardenproject.blogspot.com/2009/11/jhavia-exotic.html

The beginning...

I got my locs started today! I love it already... It looks really good. I love that he used all natural stuff so my hair doesn't feel stiff. I am so excited... And Meghan is more excited than I am lol. Of course I will keep you guys updated on this journey. I have to do a video because the experience was great. I went to Bornu Locs in a secret location lol. You can check out his work at www.Bornu.com. He was really cool and he finished my hair in less than 2 hours.
I guess that's it for now. Stay tuned :)
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Cheap AND Healthy is not a fantasy...

I always say that it costs more to have less things in your food. Organic stuff is more expensive than highly processed foods. That's pretty sad. Our society wants us to be healthy and thin and beautiful, but they want us to be all of that on a diet of Krispy Kreme and McDonalds (don't forget to wash it all down with an extra large Coke!).

I know we're in a recession, and I know organic stuff is pricey, but that's not an excuse to eat unhealthily (is that even a word??? You know what I mean dammit lol) All I'm trying to say is that you can eat healthy and not break the bank.

I have an example of how I did that today, or I should say how I am doing it, since I am eating as I type this. I already told you guys about my random chicken craving. Well, we bought a whole chicken, already cut, cooked, seasoned and baked for $6. That same evening, we also bought a bag of coleslaw. Now I am not a big mayo fan so I tend to shy away from coleslaw. But this was the bag in the salad section, and all it is is cabbage and carrots shredded up. We got that for 79 cents. I took some of the coleslaw and put it in a plastic container, popped it in the microwave for about 2 minutes to steam it. So I have baked chicken with a side of cabbage for under $7. What's even better is that the chicken lasted for 3 days. So really it is possible to spend about 7 bucks and eat for 3 days. I think that's pretty affordable.

Another thing...make sure to see what sales your local grocery store has going on. And don't be discouraged if you can't do all of your shopping at one store. Meghan and I go to 3 stores: our neighborhood, hole in the wall store (Piggly Wiggly) Kroger, and Wal Mart. We go to Pig Wig for produce, because we know when they first bring it in and it's always priced just right. We go to Kroger for pretty much everything else. We only go to Wal Mart for toiletries, and we might get food items if their price is lower than Kroger's.

Another thing that helps save money is portion control. When I make dinner, I usually eat while keeping in mind that I want to have food left over to take to work the next day.

I'll end on this not: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF H2O!!! I was starving earlier, but I wasn't in a place to eat so I just drank water. It really did help. I'm not saying it took my hunger away completely, but it took the edge off. Did you know that most people are chronically dehydrated, so they confuse thirst with hunger? I will devote anther post to water later.

Eat right, live right.