Category: Lifestyle

Lifestyle

How To Soar & Stay Motivated for 2018

January 2, 2018

A close friend of mine recently asked me, ” What are some books, audiobooks and recommendations for staying motivated and uplifted?” It wasn’t long before I had a slew of recommendations because quite frankly, I am a self-help junkie. Instead of just sending her a long list via email, I figured I would pass along these tips to all. Reading, listening and writing are some of the best ways to get to soar and accomplish your goals but also stay motivated along the journey. Whether you are are just looking for some new books to get into or in need of some motivation for the new year, check out a few things I listen to to keep me motivated and going. Side-note: I couldn’t start this list without mentioning my book FitHair foundations. No matter where you are along the journey, this books is all about laying the proper foundation for a healthy lifestyle from the inside out. You can grab it on Amazon right now. Podcasts Here is a list of podcast I listen to every week. Podcasts are free so I try to soak up as much as I can from listening to podcasts each day. Some I listen to each day while others I tune in weekly or a few times a month depending on the topic. Joyce Meyer The Read NPR Elevation Church Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations Dave Ramsey Optimal Finances Daily Success Insider Books & Magazines My head is always in a book and it’s a great habit to incorporate. There is nothing like breaking away from technology and cuddling up with a good book at the beginning or end of a day. Below are a list of books that have helped me in the past and or some I continue to read to this day. The Mind Connection, Joyce Meyer The Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer Power Thoughts, Joyce Meyer Soar, T.D. Jakes The Alchemist The Richest Man in Babylon, George Samuel Women’s Health Magazine Entrepreneur Magazine The Dream Giver It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be Kingdom Woman, Tony Evans & Chrstyal Hurst StrengthsFinder 2.0, Tom Rath Wisdom of the Ages, Wayne W. Dyer You Have 4 Minutes, Rebekah Borucki Audible Books So, I broke this down into a separate list because the book list was getting very long. Ha! most of the books I mentioned above also are on audible or have an audio version. Anywho, here are a list of a audio books I also have listened too and recommend. Boundaries in Dating, John Townsend The Power of Intuition, Wayne Dyer Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo You Can Begin Again, Joyce Meyer Destiny, T.D. Jakes Manage Your Day-to-Day, Jocelyn Glei #Girlboss, Sophia Amourso You Are a Badass, Jen Sincere Power Thoughts Devotional, Joyce Meyer The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg Notebooks & Planners If my head isn’t in a book, a notebook and planner are always within hands reach. Writing down your goals and or your daily habits is vital for success. It’s important to keep track of your progress on your journey but also writing down items means you have some form of accountability. Here are a list of my favorite notebooks and planners. It’s a short list because I am super picky about what I write on so these are my faithfuls and never let me down. Day Designer Academic Planner Weekly Monthly – Blue Sky Collaboration Day Designer Notes – Blue Sky Collaboration Moleskine Classic Ruled Soft Cover Notebook Moleskine notebooks – any to be honest Greenroom journal with soft cover 300 writing prompts journal Black Marathoners Beta running journal (members get this)

Baltimore Running Festival Guide

December 7, 2017

In October, I spent several days in Baltimore, Maryland. The city is known for its harbor and famous crab cakes. I spoke about my quest to run two marathons within two weeks, and it didn’t go as planned. I ended up demoting myself from the full marathon to what’s called a bal-ta-mor-athon, which consist of running a 5k and the half marathon. However, I truly enjoyed myself and the city. If you are running the race or just coming to hang for the weekend, here is a travel guide of the city of Baltimore and the Baltimore Running Festival. So I wanted to share a race recap, travel tips and obviously things to see and do in Baltimore. Travel to Baltimore I travel by way of Southwest airlines straight into Baltimore main airport – BWI, but you can also travel into Washington D.C., which is about an hour away. Additionally, you can fly into Regan or Dulles and take either a train or rent a car to travel the hour distance to Baltimore. So in short, there are a few different ways go getting to B-more. I like BWI because it’s nice, clean and connects directly to the light train. I took the light train from the airport straight into the downtown harbor area for only $1.80!! It was a great way to see the city and relax my feet for 30 minutes. Unfortunately, on the way back due to leaving at the crack of daw, I had to take Uber to the airport, which cost me a little over $20 but it was a short 10-15 minute trip from my hotel. Getting around the city is very easy. I walked most places because they were within walking distance and when not Lyft, which has a more significant prescience in Baltimore during this time, was available within a few minutes. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to take the bus, but the bus is free and very easy to navigate throughout the city. Hotels to Stay At In Baltimore While there, I visited several different hotels for an upcoming event I am planning with the Black Marathoners Association. My favorite hotels thus far are the Baltimore Renaissance Hotel by the Harbor and Hilton Baltimore. Baltimore Renaissance Hotel From amazing views of the harbor every time you wake up to their endless healthy breakfast buffet, this hotel is perfect for families and those who want to be within a few feet from most tourist attractions and less than a mile from Wholefoods.(Gotta be close to a store for last minute item!) Additionally, the hotel is connected to the mall, which may be great for some or not so great for others. I was tempted to do some massive shopping, but I didn’t! HA! I liked that the Marriott allowed guest to make reservations for dining at any time because there is nothing like wasting time for waiting around for a table. Additionally, their breakfast and bar for a night cocktail are great. I was able to make my own juice as I overlooked the harbor before race morning. The hotel is half a mile from the train and pretty easy to access for anything. Hilton Baltimore I stayed at the Hilton Baltimore, which is my top pick of hotels to stay at. It is currently undergoing some updates, but they have already started and should be completed by March 2018. I got a chance to see the newer rooms, which are amazing! The view is breathtaking because you get to look at the beautiful baseball stadium and some of the city skyline. Hilton’s customer service is unlike any hotel I had. Additionally, I liked the Hilton because I was close to several local bars (not tourist stuff), directly off the light train and could easily walk with 10 minutes to the harbor to meet up for drinks. Oh yeah, the food there is the BOMB! I had crab dip, salmon BLT, and beet salad; which everything I ate was so fresh and delicious. Dining Places in Baltimore Harbor Speaking of food, Where can I start! There are so many places to eat in Baltimore, and most of them are within walking distance of either hotel or a short 5-minute ride. I want to focus on most of the restaurants and dinning within the harbor area because I didn’t get a chance to eat at all the places but here are a few highlights of places to go. The Land of Kush – the Best Black vegetarian restaurant within walking distance of the hotel. Make sure you grab it and then some for the next day! It’s that good. Phillips Seafoods: Be careful, you can eat everything at this restaurant and want to continue to eat more. There are so many options, but I had the salmon salad; however, I will be back for their famous seafood mac and cheese. Hard Rock Cafe – Because I know some of you gotta grab the magnet and pins of each location. The Grub Factory – Great spot for vegans. Can’t make it? Then hit the grub hub for delivery to you. Pappas Restaurant – Known for the best crab cakes for decades. Additionally, Oprah listed them as one of her favorite things, so ya know if O’ says it then. Hilton Hotel: For a hotel, this food is the bomb.com. Get into the beet salad, which these pecans were like heaven or their crab dip. If you are staying there, they have tons of specials and goodies before and during the baseball games, which are across the street. Rita’s Frozen Custard – If you haven’t had Rita’s you are missing out. Nothing like stopping midday for some frozen homemade custard, Italian ice or any one of the countless sweets. There is one right in the harbor with fast service and loads of options. Other Vegan & Vegetarian Spots Close –Here is a list of other vegan and vegetarian spots close by. I

New York City Marathon

November 12, 2017

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. – Lou Last year, I made a goal to run the NYC Marathon and less than a year later, thousands of steps the journey and goal has been completed. My NYC weekend isn’t the typical weekend because I can never do anything basic. I am always extra with everything. Additionally, I am always representing the Black Marathoners or doing something for the organization so it’s never a dull moment in my life. Brace yourself, it’s a bit lengthy but I couldn’t leave out anything because it was packed weekend and it’s a dream come true! It’s a good read I think. So with that, here is my VIP NYC Marathon recap. Friday – New York City I Am Here I arrived in NYC Friday and basically had mapped out my day with going to hang out and tour the Women’s Health Magazine / Rodale office and then hit the expo and I did just that. The NYC Marathon is not a typical race as most because it’s an entire weekend event of stuff. You really have to be organized or you might just miss out on running the actual race. HA! Anywho, I had a packed weekend so here goes… If you don’t want to read then feel free to enjoy the video epic documentary with scores, scripts and more extraness on my youtube channel. Women’s Health Magazine / Rodale So Rodale owns some major magazines you probably read, one being women’s health but also runners world, men’s health, and Prevention. As a 2x Women’s Health Action Hero of the year, I wanted to finally meet the folks I had been working with for now a few years. It was a cool office and experience. It was even cooler as I got a chance to see the wall of magazine covers! NYC Expo So my goal was to do everything I could at the expo and avoid it on Saturday. I did just that. The expo is basically split into three big sections. Section one is the intro to the NYC where you get everything for the race, (bibs, VIP, etc.) Next section is the NYC Merch and New Balance – the sponsors. The third is full of the other vendors. There was a lot of NYC merchandise and it was very busy. Honestly, it was crazy. The expo can be overwhelming at times. I took breaks because I was so scattered brained and wanted everything but the way my pockets were lined up…. Yeah, Nah son. The lines weren’t too long for me, as I didn’t have a wait at all. After debating on jackets for an hour, I ended up getting a windbreaker NYC jacket because I knew it would look cool with my brooks NYC shoes and red is my favorite color. The next part of the expo is basically the other sponsored stuff and picture time. This also includes the section where you do the thank you wall. I loved this because it was really cool to see all the different nationalities and ethnicities that were represented. It felt like the Olympics and we were the athletes on opening day. I couldn’t just write just one thing but I wrote multiple ones because I am extra… After that, I hit the United section and obviously more and more picture taking. Also, they had a cool section to learn about “visualization” for running from Olympic athlete Meb Keflezighi. You can check out the video in my NYC Race recap, which was really helpful during the race. Once I learned a few tips about visualization when running then I hit up the general expo section for goodies for the race. (Really look at my video recap for details on this.) I met so many people and companies at the expo that it was kinda of a blur. The best thing I did at the expo was NormaTech system. They look like large boots that basically help with dynamic compression devices designed for recovery and rehab. Basically, you put the boots on and they are supposed to help you recover faster between workouts by reducing muscle soreness and improving circulation. I did this before and afterward my race and let me tell you it works! My feet were super sore from just walking, traveling and such. After 10 minutes sitting with it – the swelling was gone. The boots provided circulation to flow better and offered more oxygen. If you get a chance to try this at an expo please do! Anywho, I got a chance to do a lot at the expo, needless to say, I was there basically for hours. From getting VIP badges in the Blue room to picking up a complimentary custom pillow, I had a great time at the NYC Expo it was lit! After the expo, I watched the NYC parade. My phone was basically about to die so I don’t have any footage of it nor do I care. This race/weekend made me just live in the moment and just take it all in. It’s like that sometimes. … SATURDAY – Social Day In the video, I show you a better glimpse of the hotel I stayed it but I stayed in the DoubleTree in the Financial District in New York. It was right off the Ferry stop and very convent to all the trains in New York. I picked this location because I wanted to roll out of the bed the day of the race. Most of my friends had over an hour or so commute just to get to the Ferry stop due to the subways being packed. I had a 3 minute walk! I was able to enjoy some sleeping in a bit. Instead of going for a quick shake out run the day before like most folks, I just took a quick 2-mile tour of the financial district and grab a few

Surprise I am Running the Boston Marathon

September 24, 2017

Morning FitHair Crew! I am overdue in sharing some exciting news. If you follow me on Instagram you already know some of my exciting-to-me pieces of news this week but if not, now is a good time to let you know a bit of what has happened. For almost a decade, I have been a member of the National Black Marathoners Association. If you didn’t know, the National Black Marathoners’ Association (NBMA) is a not-for-profit organization. It is open to everyone, regardless of your athletic ability or previous marathon experience. You don’t have to be a marathoner to join and it’s also free-99! A few things we do are Encourage Black Americans and others to pursue a healthy lifestyle through long distance running and walking. Serve as a vehicle for Black American distance runners across the nation to meet in mass at a single marathon. Provide scholarships to deserving high school boy and girl distance runners. (We’ve awarded over $25,000) Increase black distance runners through assisting with runner workshops, becoming certified runners and history of black runners etc In addition to being a member, I am a director on the board and typically serve in our marketing initiatives. From managing social media to being the National Black Distance Hall of Fame Event Manager, I truly poured my heart into an organization that impacts the community around the country. Some of you saw me last year, travel the country speaking and helping churches start a walking program. Often times, I am more behind the scenes making sure things happen for our members and make sure they are achieving their goals and dreams. For many runners, completing the Boston Marathon is on their “bucket list” or a wish. The Boston Marathon is a big goal to run it and earn your “jacket.” I didn’t think it was even possible for me to run Boston nor did I know any blacks who had accomplished running Boston until several years ago. I meet one of our members, Isaiah Douglas who has qualified over 20 times and ran it at least 14 times. After meeting him, I remember telling him one day I will because I saw you did and so did others. Each year I saw the growth of Black Boston Qualifiers and Runners thanks to one of our members, Adrienne Benton, who has coordinated the Boston Marathon “Meet and Greet” for Black runners for several years. When chatting with folks, most members have expressed a desire to not only run the race but to represent the Black Marathoners as a charity and raise funds. So, our organization went to work recently. We have built a great relationship with the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) and many of their runners. It’s pretty cool, I have even gotten to meet and hang out with Olympian and Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi and awarded him for his accomplishments. If you don’t know about Meb, you need to know stat! Additionally, my “running godfather” is Tony Reed the first African-American to run a marathon on all 7 continents. I am in good company, to say the least. Anywho, I am rambling on. You get the point. I am really involved in the running community and impact it in historical ways. The NBMA received two invitational entries to the 2018 Boston Marathon. Each entry requires a fundraising minimum of $5,000. The donations will be used to support NBMA college scholarships, operations, educational programs, achievement awards, hall of fame, and coaching grants. This includes delivering a running workshop for the Boston community. So my goal of running the Boston Marathon is happening while I am making history as well. I am so excited and already set out a full training plan because I have to be a smarter and faster runner unlike anything before. But I need your help! I can’t run it without meeting my fundraising qualification. Please help me get to Boston by donating. You can donate anything as every little bit helps, plus it’s going right back to an organization I truly love and impacts the community dollar for dollar.

Common Mistakes By Beginner Runners

March 30, 2017

If you are following me on Instagram, you know I am geeked out as I have been accepted to run the 2017 New York Marathon. Woohoo! As such you can expect more fitness, training and personal post as I work on achieving one of my life long goals. As an RRCA Certified Coach, I am often asked what are some tips for beginner runners. Below are 13 Common Mistakes By Beginner Runners. Running too Fast: Everyone wants to be faster, but it takes time, conditioning and proper planning to be consistent. Many runners run too fast too soon. Running 13min miles on Tuesday for 3 miles and then increasing to a 9min mile the following day is not beneficial. I recommend having a running coach, joining a local running program. If these are unavailable, I recommend testing various paces to see what is a comfortable pace and to increase after a few weeks gradually. Running too Much: This is probably the number one mistake I see as many runners think they should run every day of the week. Running 3-4x a week while incorporating cross-training such as yoga, cycling, and weight training is vital. Improper Footwear: Small minor injuries often are the result of not having the proper footwear. Most people just buy a pair of shoe that is the cheapest or looks good. My actual running shoes are at least two sizes larger than my actual foot due to the expanding of my foot and have ample support for my pronation. Just as I go annually to the doctor for a checkup, I make sure to do a foot analysis and review my running shoes. Things change within a year and models are often replaced and may not fit the same. My running shoes vary depending on the season and mile. This is an excellent time to for what I consider a running tune-up. Not Properly Training: A lot of runners just lack proper training. I cringe when I see people sign up for a half-marathon and the have never run more than 5 or 6 miles. There are a lot of training plans on the net, but these may not work for you and your schedule. It is important to have a running coach or a certified RRCA running club for training. Not Properly Moisturizing Hair: Women forget their hair is battling the elements such as heat, dirt, and sweat while running. It is vital to keep hair moisturized before, during and post workouts. I always keep a daily moisturizing spray like the Mane Choice in my gym bag and car to ensure my hair isn’t dry. Not Listening to Your Body: Many runners simply ignore the pain or medicate signals the body is saying. Popping over-the-counter medications or adding KT tape on a sore muscle consistently is a recipe for disaster. I recommend keeping a running log and noting daily how your body is feeling so that you can discuss with your team of doctors what is going on. There are hundreds of races each year, so if your doctor recommends some off time, you should take it. Not Listening to the Professionals: Too often I see runners asking in forums or social media for advice on if they should push through an injury or should they ignore their doctor’s advice on not running. It’s always great to discuss with your doctor your training. Not Incorporating Chiropractic and Massages into Training: Adjustments and Massages often are overlooked when training. As runners hit the pavements, the body can be sent out of alignment causing multiple issues if left untreated. It is important to schedule adjustments, treatments, and massages as a regular part of training and healthy lifestyle Lack of Proper Hair Regimen: Every morning, I see women sweat for 60-90 mins only to apply heat just a few minutes later with no heat protector or suitable products. Many women do not have a proper hair regimen while training or working out, which can help you avoid hair loss or damage follicles. Make sure you create a custom hair regimen that includes the proper hair accessories, products, and regularly scheduled hair appoints to keep hair healthy. Not Resting: The “No Days Off” movement distorts the important that a rest day is a part of training. Resting is one of the most days of the training plan. Runners should adjust rest days to his or her personal schedule, Lack of Proper Nutrition: Most runners don’t understand the direct connection between performance and nutrition. Eating too much or not enough can directly impact a run or on race day. Make sure in the early part of the training you learn what meals, snacks, and fluids work best during base training. Once you find what works, stick to it. Avoiding Stretching: Stretching keeps the muscles in the body flexible allowing muscles to utilize their full range of motion. Many runners avoid stretching and Avoiding Foam Rolling: I honestly hate foam rolling, but it’s vital for anyone who exercises especially runners. According to Breaking Muscles, “By applying pressure to specific points on your body, you can aid in the recovery of muscles and assist in returning them to normal function. Normal function means your muscles are elastic, healthy, and ready to perform at a moment’s notice.”

Surprise Announcement!

April 14, 2016

I have been working hard on building The FitHair company and also expanding my expertise in communications, travel and wellness communities. — While I can go into a long post about everything, I am doing, I know you are probably reading like just get to the announcement please. Blah blah blah.. A few months ago, I applied to be a Women’s Health Action Hero. The Magazine dubs this title as a person who is a kicka** trendsetter who is a top influencer in her community, a social media maven and a go-to for the latest finds in fitness, beauty and style. THOSE SELECTED WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO: Become a voice for Women’s Health and our partners See yourself in the pages of our magazine Drive the message for nationwide advertising campaigns Get a sneak peek at the hottest new products and gear Give your social following the inside scoop on what’s trending Help change the world with RUN 10 FEED 10 After the third time seeing this ad around the internet and from fellow bloggers, I figured I would apply. I honestly didn’t think much of it as I literally was just in the magazine this time last year. (#Blessed) I filled out the application in three minutes and went on about my day. A few weeks ago, I received an email, reviewed loads of paperwork (Big Thank you to Bex at Bexlife for reviewing with me!!!) and today finished up with our first conference call, which I revealed on a few snaps (SnapChat Alexandria-will) sooooooooo you know where this is leading to right… AHHHHHHH FAINTS!!! I am so honored to be involved the program as there are a lot of other things that will happen outside those few perks. For you my readers, this means more goodies and latest information from the fitness, health and beauty industry. I will be posting on here and The FitHair website so make sure you signup for my newsletter, and follow me on social media in order to stay to date for announcements, prizes and much more. Now back to the grind of my other full-time job. XOXO PS: Thank you continually to those who have supported me and my FitHair mission. From emails to text messages or working with you for an event and buying tickets your support matters and I truly do love you all.

Learn How to CornRow And Save $$$$

April 7, 2016

I am so excited to announce I have teamed up with The Natural Cole and my hair stylist Ashley Danielle and The Natural Cole for this hands on How To Event: The Cornrow Series. This class will teach you the proper way to corn row, provide hair care education and discuss products to help with this styling technique. My new company The FitHair will be hands on sponsor making sure your feed with a few appetizers, drinks and more that are aimed to help both your body and hair from the inside out. I founded The FitHair as a way to chat about the latest in wellness and help inspire a healthy hair from the inside out. From hairstyles to the gym to healthy recipes and foods you should eat, TheFitHair.Com will keep you in tip top shape from the inside out. Don’t miss the unique hands on class as seating is limited. Registration: $55 + Receive a Swag Bag full of Hair Products and Styling Tools and more. Click Here To RSVP EVENT DATE & LOCATION: THE KOWORK Saturday, April 23, 2016 11am to 2pm 400 North St. Paul St. Suite 900, Dallas, TX 75201 EVENT SPONSORS INCLUDE More sponsors to be announced WATCH THE LAST HOW-TO EVENT RECAP VIDEO!

Made Beautiful Presents Dallas Textured Hair Marketplace

March 28, 2016

You all know, I had a great time at the first Dallas Textured Hair Marketplace so it’s no surprise the 2nd event was event better. The event featured bloggers, Romance of Heycurlie, Charlene Walton of Textured Talk and Textures Natural Hair Care and Doni of The Doni Brown. This month featured the Made Beautiful TRUE products, live music from Q Moore, a local Dallas jazz musician and a whole lot much more. You can review a few photos in the gallery and also don’t forget to check out next’s April’s event here. Made Beautiful Presents Dallas Textured Hair Marketplace A photo posted by Textured In DFW? #DallasTHM (@dallastexturedhairmarketplace) on Mar 13, 2016 at 8:06pm PDT

Clinique Play with Pop Review

March 1, 2016

Lately, I have been attending a few beauty events thanks to Bella Kinks. This past weekend she invited us to attended Clinique’s Play with Pop event in Dallas to learn more about the brand and obviously checkout some makeup. The company launched there pop lipsticks, which include a range of colors that compliment a variety of skin tones. Clinique Play with Pop Review The event took place around a food truck. The truck went to a variety of popular malls within the Dallas metroplex. At each stop, the event had product giveaways, popcorn, music and the latest lipsticks from Clinique. I brought along my fried Alexandria Gillard, who is a stylist within the DFW area for some beauty and girl time. With great weather, I let my hair be free in the wind thanks to using a few products to Nunaat’s StraightFromBrazil #patauaoil line. A lot of the colors compliment a variety of skin tones including darker ones. After playing in makeup, we grabbed a complimentary box of Uptown Popcorn then had some fun. We did a little karaoke thanks to this cute mobile dubsmash. Hot-line Bling Anyone… It’s true, lip color can change not only your look, but your mood too. Case in point. The popcorn and singing was a blast but I have to be honest, the event didn’t have a big “pop.” The giveaways weren’t from the actual line, which was a major disappointment. I liked a lot of the colors from the line but only two really stood out from what other beauty companies have had for years. Regardless of this downside, it was great to learn about the brand and enjoy a little fun in awesome weather.

Just Alex Life | Brunch, Beauty and Blushing(ton)

February 23, 2016

This weekend, I got a chance to have a intimate brunch with other natural hair business women and blogger in the Dallas area. Julian aka Bella Kinks, kicked off her first Brunch and Build event. Attendees included Tia, Marrica, Jaleesa, Charlene, Vashti, Adaeze, Cole, Ciara, Kala, I’sha and myself meeting at CBD Provisions for brunch then some pampering at Blushington. BRUNCH AND BUILD SERIES After a long morning run, I headed over to meet the other ladies at CBD Provision, which is located in the fabulous Joule Hotel. After grabbing a few appetizers we learning about the goal of the Brunch and Blog series. The goal of the group was to bring influential natural hair bloggers together, build memories and also help support each other. What I loved about the group is that we are not competing against each other but collectively collaborating to make an impact and enhance lives. I left more motivated to work in my passion and continue to create content surrounding my love hair, wellness and much more. BEAUTY AND BLUSHINGTON After brunch, we headed to Blushington in Highland Park Village. Blushington is a gorgeous place offering professional makeup application at affordable prices. We sipped champagne, learned new makeup tips and relaxed for a bit. Since our makeup was so amazing, we decided to do an impromptu photoshoot and then head out for another “brunch round” at Papadeaux’s. Photography by: I’sha Gaines Photography AFTERHOURS If you didn’t know I love me some Papadeaux’s! 🙂 We had a great bar table chat about dating and natural hair industry at Papadeaux’s for hours. With great cocktails, friends and 70 degree weather, what a perfect Saturday. Don’t forget to scroll the gallery above to see all the visually of my day. Many thanks to Julian of Bella Kinks for setting up the Brunch and Build series, the entire staff at Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge in Dallas for hosting and my creative boo I’sha Gaines for always being ready for an impromptu photoshoot. Check out the #brunchandbuild hashtag on Instagram to see more of how we spent our day. PS: If you noticed my photography skills improving, you can credit I’sha for teaching me some graphic and skills. What’s even cooler is your wanting to flex and improve your graphic skills I’sha and Veepee Jay are having a live hands on workshop “Make It Pop” here in Dallas on March 19th. You can check out the details HERE.