Formulating Hair Regime

Illustrations by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's been quite some time since i've talked about my hair care routine! Many things have changed, from swapping out this product with that product or treating my hair differently. The one thing that has been constant is my hair's health and strength. Last time I talked about my hair care routine was when I introduced Belle Bar Organics products, in March! Still using a lot of their products but i've been experimenting with more ingredients lately. My hair seems to fare better with a little bit of silicones in it's life, I know all of the strictly "curly girl method-ers" are going to be at me for that! But that is something you learn along the way, not every head reacts to the same products/ ingredients.

Travelling While Natural

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

We should be so blessed to be able to get out there and explore other cultures and immerse ourselves in it. To travel and worry about your hair though, that's not enjoyable! Been there, done that. Whenever I've travelled in the past, I just kept my hair twists and updos and while that was cute back then, I yearn for something more "grown & sexy" (insert crying/ laughing emoji) for my new adventures! I'm trying to push myself away from protective styling as a habit and only concern myself with it on lazy days. I get too comfortable and leave my hair in a bun or twists for days! I'm planning some exciting trips ahead and I know I'm not bunning it! Here are a few tips for travelling while natural because hair should never get in the way of excitement!

Beauty Bit, Self Care

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

A question I ask myself a lot lately is what is self- care? Is it purely just taking yourself to the spa for a massage and mani- pedi? Is it going to the hair dresser for a new cut or style? Is self- care simply just a shopping spree at your favorite mall? Something my friends, and family would ask me many times is how I was doing, and I genuinely didn't have answer. It has been quite frustrating because knowing exactly who you are, what you feel, and what your body needs all seem like things that should come to you naturally. You are, if anything, the main expert of you. But in all honesty, do any of us know exactly what we need at any given moment? Knowing yourself requires a lot of hard work. Think about it, the amount of sleep, plus physical activity, plus protein, and all the sorts of things you actually need (or need to put up with) depends on your individual lifestyle, add in any health conditions you might have, and your simple personal preferences. That's a surprisingly large amount of stuff that does take some work to pay attention to—and many of us aren't used to do doing that especially me! In the end I know it 's all worth it, because knowing exactly what your mind and physical body will react to, both negative and positive is crucial to reach whatever goals you have set in place. 

To achieve that, I've been swapping out my usual morning routine for self- care practices. 

Musical Notes

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Let me start off by saying apologies for the lack in updating the past few months. I've been keeping myself pretty low key and focused. My SO and I have been busy moving into our first home and furnishing it. From new living room pieces to beautiful new, modern appliances. I've even discovered a new hobby of mine aside from interior decorating, plants! With all this movement and excitement, I've been using music as a form of entertainment, preoccupation and a soundtrack to all my thoughts.

Keeping Up With Health Through Winter

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Despite the coming joys of the Holiday season, there is still plenty to be weary of this winter.
Cold weather provides a whole new set of obstacles for our health and can wreak havoc on our
bodies. However, with the right preparation, you can show winter who’s boss! Below are some
of my favorite tips to ensure your mind and body are in their best possible
state to combat the harsh elements.

A Menu For Your Skin

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Most of us know, to have a flawless complexion we need to have a skincare regimen for day and night. For me, it's essential to have a regimented routine especially because many of my family members suffer from adult acne. Sometimes we get lazy and use a makeup wipe or a facial wash without correctly removing the makeup from our skin, been there- done that! Sorry ladies and gents, but in order to have firm and glowing skin we need a little more than a wipe. Here is a menu of skincare needs to incorporate into our day and night skincare routine especially now that that the weather is getting significantly cooler!

Give A Girl The Right Shirt

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with designer styles like Helmut Lang, Alexander Wang, The Row, Diane Von Furstenberg to name a few. Contemporary womens designers have this element of design unlike others, theres always an attention to details and quality that a "minimalista" like myself crave. I yearn for a wardrobe that expresses a timeless aesthetic and a bold mix of blacks, whites, and neutrals but i'll admit the occasional trend will sneak itself into my wardrobe! Whenever I shop for pieces to add to my closet, I try to imagine myself wearing it for years on end, this process is how I determine if it's timeless, meaning it's something I can wear 10 years from now or even 20 years from now! For me it's important to have a wardrobe that isn't full of fluff but containing quality and capsule pieces which is why Barney's is one of my favorite stores to visit. Barney's is what I like to think of as a boutique department store with contemporary and premier designers for both men and women. I am an avid online shopper and would prefer to keep it that way but Barney's offers an awesome in store experience with helpful employees to answer your needs, snacks, drinks, great lighting for selfies, large fitting rooms and of course a more intimate feel with the products that online shopping yet does not offer. I recently visited my local Barney's here in Philadelphia and went in thinking I was going to pick something out that would be neutral and left with something totally left field!

Hairy Situation

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

As you may have noticed recently, I have colored my hair, technically lightened it! I was admittedly getting bored with my dark kinks and wanted something drastically different, i've never had blonde or at least "blonde-ish" hair and knew that was what I wanted to achieve. I took time out one weekend to try it and 5 hours of grueling intensity with lots and lots of foil. End result, an ombre crown! I totally love it, but I am also aware of the work it takes to maintain lightened hair. The stress of maintenance for naturally coily hair has doubled for me but with a tweak in my routine I can make it manageable!

Travel Plans

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Vacations aren’t nearly learning experiences for most of us. No, they are opportunities to relieve tension, soak up the sun, and indulge. On a separate note, I can’t wait to plan for my next getaway! Phew, now that that is out of my system, let’s get back to the program! Vacations are supposed to be fun, but every now and then they are also opportunities to grow and develop. Maybe not in a human sense but from a lifestyle viewpoint. Now let me ask you this, have you never been on vacation from hell? One that just isn't enjoyable no matter what you do? If you haven’t, you’re one of the lucky ones. Everyone and I mean everyone, wants to avoid disasters, and by analyzing what was good and what was bad is the most straightforward method to plan for much more successful vacations.

Self Check

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Let's be frank, it should be one of everyone’s top responsibilities to look after their own health. As well as doing all the obvious things like eating right, cutting down on harmful substances and exercising on a regular basis, there are also plenty of do- it- yourself health checks which can help you with preventative measures. I tend to keep my physician on speed dial if any questions should arise, but out of those conversations I learned a lot of tips! Here are just a few things that you can do for yourself that can help you to spot issues in the first place. Remember to consult your physician as well! Make 2018 the year that you make major strides on your health and preventative measures.

Get Moving

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

One of the trendiest things to have a resolution of for the beginning of the year is always around fitness. "New year, new me," takes on different tone in everyone around that time and it's all in good favor for better health. As an avid gym rat, I can remember the trials and tribulations that it takes to get yourself comfortable with going to the gym. Everyone starts somewhere and when you have no idea where to begin, it's quite an intimidation... "gym- timidation!" Getting past the road blocks can feel like a hard feat but if you really put your mind to it you can find ways around it. One of the ways I found my way through the gym was via the internet, looking up routines to practice while I was at the gym. Fortunately nowadays there are better ways to do that exact thing with little effort at the touch of your hands with Aaptiv. 

Which Character Inspires You?

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

When it comes to television, I try not to get sucked into storylines, not because I hate tv but I just don't have time to get sucked into an entire synopsis. Most shows on tv require a deep dedication and devotion to fully understand the plot lines. Which is why I tend to catch snippets here and there of reality tv shows, news segments or my favorite choice of entertainment-on-the-go, podcasts. When you're a busy- body, taking time to sit down is quite a rarity. From working 40 hours a week plus the extra odd hours working on self endeavors, and making time to visit friends and family, it's no wonder I cut out television from my schedule. Occasionally there will be a series on tv that catches my attention and just draws me in to it, and funny enough most of those series are on one network, HBO.

Fashion Your Winter

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

The Halloween excitement is over and winter will inevitably be ensuing. We officially have less than a month left until Christmas- how crazy is that? Xmas mode is in full gear, every other commercial on Hulu is something to do with Christmas. It seems like only yesterday that cute playsuits and sundress were on full display. But alas, temperate climates are ever changing and one has to go with the flow every season.

Fashion throughout winter is fairly similar to autumn, with the classic tartan prints and pinafores seemingly here to stay, but what we're all about are the new different pieces!

To The Tailor

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Imagine this, you're at a very special event wearing your favorite silk dress while  you network with friends and business partners. Most likely this event will have some alcoholic beverages and finger food, which means in between conversations you're taking sips of red wine perhaps. While I like to fancy myself a glass of Merlot, I definitely do not like spilling it on my clothes, especially on delicate fabrics. I'm not perfect and accidents happen, but going to a tailor shouldn't be your first and only option, spending money to get rid of stubborn stains is not magic especially when you have Dryel by your side.

Top Shopping Destinations

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Do you ever get bored of shopping at your local main street? I certainly do, especially when you want something completely different than what the locals can offer. Whilst online shopping has opened up new opportunities, most shopaholics still like the adventure of walking into a retail store and touching the garments and trying on the pieces before you buy them of course. I myself, love strolling through the store and appreciate customer service. I read an article recently stating that brick and mortar retail stores may soon be a thing of the past because of how technology is advancing, for example the Amazon stores where you walk right in and grab exactly what you need without talking to a sales representative. Taking a vacation to go shopping can be one way of getting the fix. Whether you’re looking to splash the cash or simply enjoy the thrill of window shopping, here are a few top shopping destinations to check out as rated by Lonely Planet!

Why We Need Wonder Woman

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's crazy to think that not too long ago (within the past century), women were allowed to vote, women were allowed to apply for their own charge cards and not ask their dads for theirs.When I was a just a little girl, my brother and I would walk into the local comic book store and check out the latest comics. I was always intrigued by the beautiful illustrations inside of comics, it may have been part of my influence into the creative field! The colors, the characters, the costumes, the romances, the plot lines, everything was given detail to except for one, women. Growing up, I never quite understood why I never saw women on the front lines of the comic book stories. Sure there were the famous women characters that we all knew and loved like Cat Woman, Super Girl, and Storm to name a few. But if you take a look at those characters' comics or other women characters comics, you'll notice that most of their stories are pretty abstract and vague or at the center of their plot is a man, unsurprisingly. It wasn't until I realized that that's the way the world is run, there are more men in power than women, even though women have been 52% + of the world's population for the past several years. Then, 2017 came around with it's first movie of a woman comic book character, Wonder Woman.

How To Fake The Wake

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Admit it, you're busy. It's ok to come to that realization, we all have things to do and things we want to accomplish. Mornings are tough, from avoiding the snooze button to making sure you look somewhat well groomed, you also need to make sure you get out the door on time! Incessant Netflix Originals and Hulu Show marathons, to demanding deadlines and passion projects, it's easy to understand why morning feel like a necessary evil. Unfortunately sleeping starts to feel like a thing of the past as you get older, like an elusive product of a special club that you're not a member of. I do my best to get as much REM sleep in but alas, life gets in the way. Time is precious and that's why I've figured out how to mask the sleeplessness because no one likes to hear, "You look tired!" Here's how I wakey- wakey....

New Wardrobe

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Now that the weather is getting much more seasonal, it's time to break out all of the lightweight layers. Soon the new summer collections will be what's hot and in season, but a lot of expenses will also be on the horizon. Of course, I'd rather spend money on new clothes and summer fun, but unfortunately, rent and bills must take priority. However, this doesn’t mean that anyone should miss out on new clothes altogether. If you’re smart, you know there are several ways to update your wardrobe and still save money. Here are a few of my favorite suggestions...

Crack of Dawn

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

A few months ago I started reading a book called The Secret and Think and Grow Rich. I've never been one to read non fictions but lately I realized I needed to make some changes in my life to achieve the goals that I want to attain. Self help books can be quite life changing when you really absorb the information that you're learning, these books helped me understand what exactly was the power of positivity and how it can influence your life. This got me thinking about what the "successful" people do to get their days started, the way you spend your mornings can determine the mood and the outcome of your day. It's also why I never skip breakfast! Whether you're a morning person or not, we all have to start our day somehow.

Beauty Bit, Night Shift

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Every winter, without skipping a beat, my skin loses all traces of moisture and hydration. The chilly winter air is harsh and drying on my complexion, with the results of this being tight skin, itching, and dry, flaky patches that are anything but glamorous! As soon as my skin starts to react to the cold weather, I switch up my routine to put the focus on infusing my skin with ultimate moisture and soothing my skin. The most important time of the day for your beauty revival is at night, that's when I make sure to do the most for my routine because when we sleep it allows the vitamins, minerals and all the good stuff to do it's job. Here's a look at what's currently in my arsenal to battle old man Winter this season....