New Year, Better Me

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Hopefully you all had a great holiday and you are on a great start in 2016.  I know this is the time of year where everyone (including me) has a renewed spirit and a new lease on life.

I don’t usually participate in the “new year’s resolution” hype.  Instead, I usually try to set goals for the year.  My goals are usually simple goals that I feel are attainable for the year.  My goal for 2015 was buying a house which I was able to accomplish.  2016 though….This will be a totally different monster.

 I want 2016 to be my year of revelation.  I want to learn more about myself and my trajectory in life.  I want to take advantage of being in the part of my life where I can take risks and explore more opportunities.  So I plan to break this year’s goals into two categories: yearly and quarterly.

Goals for the Year:

Finances

We all want to be financially free and independent.  So I’m sure no one is surprised by seeing this on the list for a financial goal.  I would like to start saving $6,000 a year and increase this amount every year.  I plan to try to do this by adjusting my budget and cutting out unnecessary bills and increasing my savings.  How did I come up with this number?  Well, I read an article where a girl started saving $10,000 over 2 years by saving $200 a paycheck.  That would be about $6,000 a year roughly.  While I don’t think I’ll be able to save $200 a pay check I think I should be able to average something similar.  Once I make my goals I’ll have a better idea of what will be feasible.

Branding

If you follow me on any social media site then you know that I have a few business ventures that I would like to explore.  However, I think my biggest down fall in being a successful business owner is branding.  I have failed to brand myself and I want to take my branding seriously in 2016.  I want to explore more options to brand myself in order to make myself my biggest income generator.  I’m not sure how I’m going to do everything, but I have a few ideas.

Each Quarter will have smaller goals that will help me to attain my goals for the year.  I aim to post these goals on the following dates: 1/15/2016, 4/15/2016, 8/15/2016, 12/15/2016.  This way you guys can follow my progress and hopefully keep me accountable.

Buying a House

So as some of you may know, I just recently bought a house.  The whole process of buying a house is very cumbersome and stressful.

Here are some tips:

1.Financially in order
 So if you would have asked me at the beginning of my house hunt if I were financially ready to buy a house I would have said of course.  Now if you ask me, I would say yes but not with such "that's an obvious answer" attitude in my throat.  When I say you need to be financially in order, I'm not just saying have a bunch of money in the bank, but that's necessary as well.  The one thing that I forgot about when buying a house was how "in ya business" the mortgage company was going to be during the process.  They want to know who transferred that $1.50 in your checking account 2 days ago and why you move this money from your savings every month.  So when I say be financially in order, I mean to have an explanation for all of your financials, if questioned.  This includes accounting for any co-owners on your accounts and transfers in and out of your account.
 
2. Budget Strictly yet leniently
When I first started looking for a house, I was adamant in saying that I was not going to spend over a certain amount.  I was strict on what my price point would be and how much I was willing to pay.  I quickly found out that everything that I wanted was in a different price range.  I then had to have a high end of what I was willing to pay and a optimal low end that I was ok with as well.  So definitely do some research on what you want and how much that stuff usually costs.

3.Don't do it alone
Make sure that you have a support system.  There were so many houses that I had mentally "moved in" in my head, and it was so taxing to have to mentally "move out" when I lost the houses.  I literally would walk into these houses and envision where I wanted all of my stuff and how I would decorate.  I even talked to one of the homeowners that was selling the house about what she thought about my plans and why she decorated the way she did.  However,I think that's also part of the process as well.  Why would you want to buy a house that you can't envision yourself living in one day.  The thing that made it hard was when I fell in love with a house no longer available it made it harder for me to love a new house unless it showed me something better than the last and that so often came with an increase in price.


4.Stay Strong
At this time, it is definitely a sellers market.  Houses were literally "flying off the shelves."  It was so hard to get a contract on a house because literally a house would go on the market and the next day it would have 6 offers.  So I definitely would say go with your gut.  If you love a house and want it to be yours be aggressive or you may lost it.  It took me three houses to learn that.  If you are even so wowed by a house from merely the pictures I would say still put an offer down, or it may not be there later.

5.Stay Organized
Do your research, and find out what is needed to buy a house.  Definitely have a priority list of what you must have in your new home.  If you don't keep everything in order you can look up and find yourself lost or confused as to why you aren't finding the house for you. 

Comment below with any questions or comments that you guys have in terms of buying a house.

Requested:: Everything you want to know about Faux Locs

Hey Loves!!

Happy FierceFitFoodieFriday! **praise dance**. Do you love the look of locs but don't want the commitment? Have you wanted locs but not sure how they would look on you? You might want to give Faux Locs a try!

This topic has been highly requested since I initially wore this style late last year so here is everything there is to know about Faux Locs!


First things first, before you think about doing ANY protective style:

1. Thoroughly CLEANSE your hair and scalp
2. DEEP CONDITION

NON-NEGOTIABLE. Of course this is just my (not a professional hair stylist) opinion on the matter, but I don't care how much you "hate" shampoo, if you are putting your hair away for 3 or more weeks--you need to shampoo it (shampoo, not co-wash) and deep condition it. The preparation step before any protective style is SO IMPORTANT for preserving the health of your hair. Don't skip it.

K, so now that I've said that...on to the Faux Locs.

What you need (Based on how I achieved this style, but there are plenty of ways):

• 1 pack of braiding hair
• 7-8 packs of Marley Braiding Hair (in any assortment of colors of your liking) The number of packs you need totally depends on the size of your locs.
• A cream styler of your choice, I used Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie 
• A lighter
• A good movie
• A glass of wine** Optional but you'll probably need it

Because I wanted to make sure there wasn't too much stress on my hair, I braided my hair first with some kaneklon hair in box braids. These do not need to be perfect, cute, or precise. Also, no need to braid to the end, just far enough so that your hair is not out. I used the cream product while braiding to add more moisture to my hair.

When researching how to do this style I browsed through a lot of tutorials, but this one by ImShineStruck is the one I found to be the best not only because of how she explains it, but how it looked afterwards (pretty natural). She also walks though how to braid your hair (not the way I braid) should you not know how. And it's short!! Only 5 min :).

The key to doing these well in my opinion (which I learned AFTER *insert side eye here*) is while you're wrapping to OVERLAP the hair. This is because the locs will snag on each other, so if you didn't wrap your braids well, the locs will start to unravel when they snag.


Quick Facts:

• How much does it cost: About $40 depending on how many packs of hair you need vs at least $100-150 if you pay someone else to do it.
• Install: I've only done these once and it took me about 8-10 hours over two days
• Maintenance: Spritz daily or every other day with a mix of water/conditioner/oil--use your favs
• Take Down: I just take some scissors and cut each loc high enough to eliminate some work, but low enough that you know you aren't cutting your hair. How much would it suck if you cut your own hair??
• How Long Do They Last: Especially because of how long these take to install, I wouldn't wear them any less than 3 weeks. That's just me though I needs my ROI (return on investment). It is recommended not to wear protective styles more than about 2 months or 8 weeks so I would go with that,
• But What About my Edges: I would say your're fine as long as you don't wear them in updos/pontytails too often because those types of styles are going to add MORE stress to your edges.

Time for Pictures!!

Interested in trying to install faux locs for yourself? Have you already done it? Tell me about your experience. How long did it take you? How did you install them? Did you love them? Hate them? Let me know in the comments section! Like, Comment, and Share with a Friend!

Fierce Fit Foodie Feature:: Meet Fierce Foodie Victoria

Hey Beauties!!!


We're excited to announce our very first Fierce Fit Foodie Feature!!!

FFF: Introduce Yourself!

V: Hello everyone! My name is Victoria, but you can call me Vic or Deli. I am so excited to be featured by Fierce.Fit.Foodie! I'm a country girl living in the DMV. I'm on a journey to expanding my creative space, and I hope that I can inspire you in some way.



Fiereness!!


FFF: How would you describe your sense of style?

V: Casual, but edgy chic


FFF: Discuss how you put together an outfit

V: I usually pick out one piece first like shoes or a top then work around that.


FFF: What are your 3 favorite items of clothing?

V: bags, shoes, dresses


FFF: What are your favorite places to shop?

V: H&M, Zara and Target


FFF: Are there any style trends or pieces you are excited to try?

V: I'm loving the fringe trend and I'm also excited to mix my new sneakers with a couple of dressy outfits. Sporty chic.


Hair Care


FFF: How would you describe your hair?

V: Diverse and versatile. It's very thick and curly with blonde highlights. I change my hair so much it's never the same style for too long.


FFF: What has been your biggest hair struggle? How did you overcome it?

V: My biggest hair struggle was the growth stage after the big chop. I hated doing my own hair so I really had to discipline myself to twist my hair, condition it, try different styles, etc. I was used to going to the salon so it was a big change for me.  But I saved a lot of money lol.  I tried new products, watched youtube videos, read natural hair blogs, and came up with own hair regimen.


FFF: Describe your styling/care routine

V: Lately I have been getting roller sets and wearing my hair straight but when I do wear my hair curly I normally do a wash and go or a twist out.


FFF: What is your go to hairstyle?

V: When I don't feel like doing my hair I'll put it in a bun or if im wearing it curly i'll just do a wash and go.


FFF: What are your hair goals?

V: Lately I've just been focused on length retention. So I get my hair trimmed every few months and I make sure I don't use too much heat.


FFF: What are your favorite products currently?

V: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner and Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil



Beauty

FFF: What is your beauty routine?

V: Most days I don't wear makeup to work. I like to give my skin a break. I usually only wear makeup when I go out. I put on blush, eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick.


FFF: Who inspires your looks?

V: I get inspiration from everywhere. I really enjoy the Tiny Closet blog (www.thetinycloset.com), she wears minimal makeup and her skin is simply gorgeous. I love the natural look.


FFF: What item can't you live without?

V: I have to have lipstick! Yes I'm one of those girls that will wear lipstick to the grocery store. I think I get that from my Aunt Rosie. She won't let me take a picture of her until she "paints her lips." Every girl should have a tube of lipstick in her purse at all times. You never know who you might run into. ;) 


FFF: What are your favorite products currently?

V: Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer: My eyeliner usually smudges onto my eylid creases. This primer has really helped with that.

MAC Matte No Fax Pas Lipstick. As if I needed another matte Fuschia lipstick...but I just really love this color! And it is a great color for any season.

Biore Warming Anti-Blackhead Cleanser makes my skin feel so clean and refreshed.



Foodie

FFF: How do you classify your food expertise? (chef, restauranteur, foodie, etc)

V: I'm a Foodie-wanna-be chef


FFF: What is your favorite thing to eat?

V: This is a hard question! I can't choose one thing. I love steak and seafood.  My favorite soul food dishes are greens and mac and cheese. You have to try my mac and cheese. It's so good.


FFF: What is your favorite thing to make/create?

V: Sweet potato casserole and broiled lamb chops.



 
FFF: Who/what is your foodspiration?

V: Growing up I loved watching my mom bake and licking the bowl when she was finished. I hope that one day my cakes and pies turn out as good as hers. I don't do a lot of baking but my sweet potato pie is pretty good.


FFF: What is your guilty pleasure food?

V: I love to each chocolate ice cream with sour cream and potato chips. I get a mix of sweet and salty.



Inspiration

FFF: Who do you admire?

V: I admire my friends. They are all amazing! Enterpreneurs, writers, producers, managers...you name it. I admire their courage and resilience.


FFF: What tips do you have for the readers?

V: Be yourself! You are beautiful and unique. Don't be afraid to share who you are with the world.


FFF: How can the readers get in contact with you? (blogs, websites, social media)

V: gloriadean.blogspot.com
IG: @delicate22
twitter: @hawaiiansilky22




Interested in being featured? Click the "Wanna Be Featured?" button on our home page, complete the form and send it to fierceandfitfoodie@gmail.com!

Product Review - Paul Mitchell Soft Style Heat Seal

Product: Paul Mitchell Soft Style Heat Seal

Price: 12.75 at Ulta

Promises: Builds body, provides light hold and enhances shine. Guards strands from damage caused by heat styling.

Review:

I have been using this heat protectant for over two years.  This is my favorite  heat protectant to use because it doesn't weigh down your hair and it leaves your hair light and feathery.  I have previously used tresemme thermal creations heat tamer spray and Got 2 be guardian angel.  I would say that the tresemme product did well but I prefer this one.  I can really tell a difference in the feel and lightness of my hair when I don't use this product.

I definitely will repurchase this heat protectant again.  It is a staple for me and I don't plan to get rid of it any time soon.

What heat protectant do you use?

Summertime Hair..

My favorite season of the year is the SUMMER.  A lot of wonderful things happen in the summer... My birthday, no snow, concerts, picnics/cookouts, my birthday, roadtrips, beaches, vacation, and MY BIRTHDAY! 

I think the hardest part of the summer for me is deciding what to do with my hair.  Right now my hair is in a transition state or should I say states.  I am currently sporting three different textures: natural, texlaxed, and relaxed.  Trust me it is a struggle handling all three states.  I am always dealing with breakage at the demarcation line of where the textures meet; however, I refuse to do a big chop.  I have transitioned to natural before without a big chop and I am determined to do it again.  Although I am transitioning to natural right now, this is not necessarily a permanent thing.  For now I am just trying to get one texture in my hair, and then I will decide if I want to go back to being relaxed.  So back to the problem at hand….3 textures and summer time humidity.

My current options: braids, wigs, flat iron, and natural state

Here are MY pros and cons for each

Braids/Twists

Pros:        minimal work for upkeep

                Protective style

               

Cons:       can cause damage if not proper care isn’t taken

                Heavy

                Hard on edges

Wigs

Pros:        Easy to wear

                Easy access to my hair

                Protective Style

                Minimal work for upkeep

Cons:       Feels like a winter hat

                Double hair duty (Hair has to be taken care of while maintaining your own hair regimen)

Flat Iron

Pros:        new style

                Length checks

                Smooth cuticles

Quick styling

Quick night time routine

Cons:       Heat damage is a possibility

                Durability is slim due to humidity and workouts

Natural State

Pros:        no heat styles

                Durable in humidity and workouts

                Easy on edges

Cons:       longer night time routine

                Daily maintenance

                         

Does anyone else have any suggestions on what I should do with my hair?

What are you guys doing with your hair this summer?