Yep…today I hit the 47-year mark. WOW! I’m almost 50 years old. Time flies, whether you’re having fun, or not..once you pass 30.

I had to work today, and I had a birthday party at work. My cake was phenomenal, don’t you think? It was tasty, too. The bottom layer was sour cream white cake, with peanut butter cream and strawberry preserves…”PBJ”. Delish…beyond words!   The Cake Box, did a wonderful job.

The top layer was red velvet, with cream cheese filling. I didn’t care for that one as much. Almost EVERY time I order any chocolate type cake, it’s  a tad dry. It seems difficult to make a really moist chocolate cake. I’m not a cake baker. I bake pies.

Anyway…it’s good to still be in the land of the living, and in good health and spirits. Once again, God has seen fit to let me see another birthday. Praise Him. I give thanks!

A Happy Nappy Girl

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2009 is almost gone! No, this is not my “year in review” post. This is my list of the “best of 2009″, as far as eats, treats, and of course, hair and beauty products. Let’s get to it:  **Update 1/1/10**: I added “Best Product Line”. I forgot it!

Best of Hair Products:

• Best Overall Product Line
  Afroveda
  Just amazing! The Shea Amla Whipped Butter Cream and the Pur Whipped Jelly are my new staples. The butter cream beat out my beloved Qhemet Biologics Amla and Olive Heavy Cream, so you KNOW it’s great!

• Peace Love and Sunshine Coconut Confidence
  A blend of virgin organic coconut oil, and unrefined shea butter. Dreamy, and creamy.  It’s dessert for the hair…and body.
• Sweet Nature by Eddie Love Deep Conditioner
  I do it. It’s a very simple, uncomplicated concoction that works to soften and condition the kinks. It absorbs into the hair, and leaves no buildup.
• Healing Herbs by Rene Herbal Black Soap Shampoo, and Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
  The shampoo cleans without stripping and the conditioner smells like a taste of heaven on earth…conditions well too.  100% natural and organic.

Best of Beauty Products:

• Lip Slip by Sara Happ
  I lip balms, but so many are… so-so. Not this one. It’s thick and rich, and it “coats” the lips with a moisturizing shield that protects against the elements.
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish
  A lightweight powder that perfects the skin. Think “healthy glow”, with a matte finish.  It’s replaced my pressed powder.
• Mure de Musc Extreme by L’Artisan Perfumeur
  Sweet blackberry…but not overwhelming, and not too “fruity”. It makes me dizzy…in a very good way. Divine.

Best Eats and Treats:

Nothing to share this year. There were a couple of things I wanted to try, the Amella Artisan Cocoa Butter Caramels for instance, but I didn’t quite get around to it.  I plan having a few favorites in this category, next year.

A Nappy Girl

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Why is it when women express insecurity about their looks/attractiveness, women often make it about somebody else, rather than the actual women with the issues?

“Oooh girl, you’re so pretty! If a guy doesn’t find YOU attractive, he’s clearly insane!!”

Really? Why can’t a guy not find you attractive? Now, I’m all for thinking positive about yourself, and knowing that you’re beautiful…but it’s for you, not for other people.  Because as gorgeous as you may be, everybody won’t think so. There are people, like me for instance, who tend to go for unconventional good looks on a man. The men most women swoon over,  make me yawn.

If a man doesn’t find you attractive…he doesn’t find you attractive. It doesn’t mean there’s anything “wrong” with him. Doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. It doesn’t mean that he’s blind, dumb, shallow…or whatever. It means that you don’t appeal to him physically, for whatever reason. That’s all it means, and that’s enough. End of story.

Sometimes we need to really think about what we say. That’s just like  somebody saying I’m blind, because I don’t find Shemar Moore drop-dead gorgeous. Now, we can joke about it (and we do among our friends), but when it comes to trying to help women who have self-esteem issues, we need to actually help, and not hinder.

It’s tragic that it’s STILL all about how we (women) look.  It’s also good to mention that finding a man who loves, respects and appreciates ALL of you is a formidable task…for pretty women, not-so-pretty women, nappy-haired women, and straight haired women.  Beauty doesn’t guarantee happiness.  Look around.

We gotta change the way we think, ya’ll,  so we can speak sense into nonsense.  Many of us have daughters and nieces to influence.  You don’t usually “out grow” wrong  thinking.  It has to be uprooted and cast out, and replaced with right thinking.

When you have the opportunity to be a “light” in someone’s life, shine bright. Speak the truth, with love.  Don’t feed the dysfunction. Get to the heart of the matter.

A Nappy Girl

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10 Things I’m Thankful to God For:

1. Good Health
   I never take for granted that I’m going to always be able to walk around, breathe freely, see, and all that other “stuff” that contributes to the quality of life.
2. Good Friends
   God has blessed me with some great friends, on and offline. I them all and pray for them daily.
3. Good Sense
   Being in a “right state of mind” is a blessing.  There are so many crazy, out-of-mind folks walking around.
4. Good Job
   What’s a “good job”? In this economy, it’s a job that keeps you working. So many folks have lost jobs, or are about to lose jobs. Whenever my job starts to get on my nerves, I remember that…and go chill somewhere.
5. Shelter
   Having a home to go to is a blessing. Not having to sleep on the streets is a blessing.  Being able to come in from the cold is…a blessing.
6. My Parents
   My parents are still living, and I’m thankful for that.
7. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
   I that place! No, I don’t go for the “Lettuce Wraps”.  I’d much rather eat the “Lemon Pepper Shrimp”, or the “Dan Dan Noodles”.
8. PeaceloveandSunshine’s Coconut Confidence
   A rich, virgin coconut oil/unrefined shea butter blend that is dessert for the hair. God is good.
9. My Loyal Readers
   Thanks for the encouraging comments, emails and
10. New Mercies Each Day
    Lamentations 3:22-23.  Selah, indeed…

Have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. Be thankful!  Be grateful!

A Nappy Girl

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Okay…well let’s talk about some things, because while I agree with an artist’s right to protect their work, I also think we need to be careful how we address folks. What am I talking about? I’m talking about this YouTube video.

First off, let me stay that I’m a staunch supporter of artists and their rights to protect their work.  See the artwork on this blog? I approached the artist (via email) and asked permission (and obtained that permisison) to use it as part of a blog template. I’ve used his artwork in a few of my blog designs, and always asked permission each time.  I was the lone person, who had issue with artwork displayed in signatures/avatars on NP, because folks were not giving credit, nor had they asked permission to make an avatar out of someone else’s artwork.  An attorney had the nerve to tell me I was “making a big deal” out of it. So, trust me, I understand.

Secondly, we need to realize that everyone doesn’t view the world the way we do. “How would you feel????”  is a valid question, but the answer is even more important, especially if the answer is “not how you feel”.  Just because a person has a different perspective than you, doesn’t mean their perspective is wrong. There’s two sides to this, and both sides can be presented intelligently.  Since my comments disappeared, I’m assuming you disagree. No problem.

Thirdly, MANY people consider YouTube videos to be under the nebulous “fair use” umbrella, regardless of how right or wrong it is to think that way. It’s one thing to have your own site, with your work displayed on that site, and have others take from your PERSONAL site, without your permission.  It’s one thing to have others try to pass off your work as their own.  It’s one thing to clearly state your terms of use, and have others ignore your wishes. It’s another thing to post your video on “YouTube” and get all uptight about folks embedding your videos, especially if you didn’t specify your terms of use.  Quite frankly, I wouldn’t post a video on YouTube, if I had a problem with it being shared, embedded, or otherwise (without permission), regardless of the quality or “level” of the content . So see, I feel much differently than you.

The ”Hair Growth” video was shared as a “gift” to your subscribers, according to your own words.  It was beautifully done, as are all of your videos, and it was very educational/informative. I think many of us were mesmerized and thankful, and decided to share the gift…not with the intent of trying to “make money off your hard work”, but we simply wanted others to see what we saw.  Again, I didn’t ask permission, because based on the nature of the video and the vehicle used to share it, I didn’t consider it  necessary…no disrespect intended. To say that “people who post your videos on their blogs are trying to make money off your work, pure and simple…” (paraphrased) is off base and quite presumptuous (and offensive).  I don’t have a monetized blog, and if I were looking to make money from videos, YouTube would not be my resource.

A Nappy Girl

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