Flea Market Finds

Got this today at the Ashby Flea Market in Berkeley, CA. I have been goint to this place since I was 15 years old...maybe a few years younger. There are so many good fashion finds at your local flea market, so check 'em out! Anyways..I LOOoooooovveee these earrings so much. The black and white parts of the earring are faux leather fabric. They are so lightweight and comfy. I hope to rock them before the weekend is over...I work tomorrow..*UGH***I guess I will wear the earrings to make me feel better. You know how it is. Have a great weekend everyone! xxoo Ameerah

Helloooooooooo!!

Hello Lovelies!! I have been in a literal whirlwind for the past few months...a funk if you will. This blog has been on my mind for a while and I think spring/summer is the time where I will find the most motivaition to continue posting. I miss sharing my life with you all! I have a LOT to tell you guys and I can't wait to show you how humongous my hair has gotten! Not long, but up and out! Also, I have some vintage finds, new product reviews, and recipes to share. Have a great Easter weekend and see you soon! xx Ameerah <3

Hibiscus Honey Mask

I have a fabulous Hair Mask Recipe that I made last night. I'm not sure if I already shared this will y'all, but here it goes:

* 2 tbsp of organic hibiscus powder
* 1 1/2 tbsp of brahmi powder
* 2 tbsp of organic amla powder
* 1/4 cup of Tresseme Remoisturize conditoner
* 1 teaspoon of honey
* 1/2 tsp of aloe vera gel

Mix well and apply to hair. Leave on for 30 min to an hour. Co-wash or shampoo out mask. This is important as hibiscus powder tends to settle on the hair and not want to let go!!! Your hair will have a burgundy tint to it that shows more intensely in the sun. Most importantly, your hair will be moisturized and conditioned as hibiscus powder, when combined with water becomes mucilaginous which provides TONS of slip (which aids in ease of detangling) and softness. Try it today!

Have a great week! :-)

Feelin' Myself

Hey Lovelies! I have definitely been MIA for a while. Lately, I have been contemplating continuing the blog or just making it outfit and hair posts only. Between two jobs, unforseen financial issues (just in time for X-Mas...geeez), and love troubles my plate has been overflowing. Yet, somehow, I still have time to look pretty. :-) This hair style started out as a super-defined bantu knot-out on lightly flat-ironed hair, but ended up as a poofy super fro due to the insane humidity that morning. It actually GREW as the day went on, but I dug it nonetheless.

Observe:



If it look like I am feelin' myself, it's cuz it's true!

Have a great week and Happy Holidays!!

Snapshots

Life is crazy now, but in the midst of it all, I still manage to treat my hair and nails special:





Hope you all are doing well. Peace!

Review: African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion

Whenever I used to think of the brand African Pride, I always had a flashback to to troubled times when I used to wear extensions 24-7. African Pride braid spray was the isht back then, but the smell was...umm..jheri curlish. lol. After years of wearing extensions, I got tired of being braided up and started to explore my natural hair. Needless to say, this was the end of my African Pride affair.

Flash forward to 7 years later during my second time going natural. After flirting with the African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion for about 6 months, I decided to give it a go to style for a braidout. The first thing I noticed was the texture and the smell. It is a creamy oil-based moisturizer, but water is the first ingredient, so it made my hair very smooth when I was applying it. I styled my hair in 5 flat twists and OMG my twists were so shiny and soft! Here are the ingredients:

Water (Aqua,Eau) Glycine Soja (Soybean)Oil,Propolene Glycol,Olea Europaea (Olive)Fruit oil,Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Cocos Nucifera (Coconut)Oil,Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed oil,Persia Gratissima (Avocado)Oil,Panax Ginseng Root Extract,Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)Leaf Extract,Equisetum Hiemale ( Horsetail )Extract,Melaleuca Alternifolia ( Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Hydrogenated vegetable oil,Steareth-2 Steareth-20,Polyquaternium-37, Propolyne Glycol,Dicprylate/Dicaprate,PPG-1,Trideceth-6,Phenyl Trimethicone,Laneth-15,Lanolin oil,Dimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin,TBHQ,Methylparaben,Propylparaben,CI 19140 (FD&C Yellow #5) Parfum (Fragrance)


Here is my twist-out puff after using moisturizer:



Because shea butter is one of the first few ingredients, it helps to be light-handed with this product. A little bit goes a long way! Also, lightly misting the hair with water definitely helps before using the lotion because it is oil-based and you want to trap the moisture in.

P.S. It is good to be back (again). :-p

A Win-Win Situation....

Welll....that was interesting. Only one person entered the giveaway,and nonetheless, she is a winner!!!!

CONGRATS! MAHOGANY D04!!!


Enjoy :-)

Giveaway Reminder

Happy Monday!

If you didn't read last week, I am giving away (read: FREE) an 8 oz. container of Silicon Mix Bambu! Get on it!

My First Giveaway: Silicon Mix Bambu Nutritive Hair Treatment

I am so excited to host my first Adventures in Bayarealand giveaway!!!

I do not recommend products that I am not passionate about and this one has me over the moon! I have used Silicon Mix Bambu Nutritive Hair Treatment a few times and my hair has been feeling strong, soft, and in-control. Lemme not even start on the smell! My hubs couldn't stop sniffing my hair last nite after a fresh wash and deep treatment with the Silicon Mix Bambu Nutritive Shampoo and Treatment. I am still catching whiffs of it today when I get up from my desk.

This will definitely be in EXTREMELY heavy rotation in my wash routine as I believe that I have found one of my staple moisturizing protein treatments. Aaaand I know I am in very deep trouble since the beauty supply down the street has it in abundance.

Wanna win? You must do the following to submit your entry:

* Must be a follower of my blog.
* Must leave a comment below detailing how you will use the product.
* Please include a valid e-mail address in your comment so that I may contact you.
* 2 entries - Repost to your blog. Please leave link to your posting. I will check!

The winner must be a resident of the United States. He/She will be chosen on Wednesday, September 21st at 3 pm Pacific Standard time by a random number generator. He/She will receive an 8 oz tub of the treatment.

Good Luck!

As if I haven't been doing it already...

...I need a little break! I am taking this break time to refresh and become inspired again as I work A LOT these days and have little time to myself to actually become inspired. :-p

I will be back next week with updates, pics, and maybe even my first GIVEAWAY ever! I love a good giveaway and have won quite a few to make me a believer. I can't wait to spread the love!

I see you new followers! Check out some of my favorite posts from waaay back when:

Yummy Homemade Facial Treatments (still using and loving these!)

Ready, Set,Go (rollersetting)

Prepping for Crockpot Week (crockpot recipes)

Creamy Dreamy Hair Treatments

Show and Tell: Divine Inspiration (ladies who inspire me)

A snapshot at my third attempt at a flat twist-out on a roller set:



Ignore my husband's Harley in the back. I've been trying to get him to fix it up or get it out but he just won't listen!

Enjoy your weekend!

Hair Snapshot

Thank GOD the weekend is here! I get paid today and I had a good heart-to-heart talk with my hubby that has me content. Speaking of content, I had a great hair day yesterday. I co-washed with Organix Cherry Blossom Ginseng conditioner and roller set my hair using the same conditioner as a leave-in. I sealed with Creme of Nature Argan Oil Polisher and put just a smidgen of shea butter on the very ends before I roller set my hair. After an hour under the dryer, I put my hair in 6 flat twists.

I love how big it turned out! My hubby was mighty pleased too:



Have a great weekend!

Bitty Boss xxoo

Review: Nicel Night Renew

Hey! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I spent half of it working, the other half vegging out watching re-runs of In Living Color and Project Runway with friends. When I did peel myself off of the couch, I realized that I was long overdue for a Big Lots run and decided to hit the aisles for a couple of instant gratification purchases. One purchase really made an impression as it turned out to be way better than I expected: Nicel Night Renew. I got this steal for a whopping $1.50 at Big Lots! Damn, I love a good deal.

I applied this in a thin layer to my face and neck. At first, I was put off by the slightly greasy feel, but this thick, rich cream was made to be used sparingly. A little bit goes a LOOOONG way and by morning I couldn't believe what I saw in the mirror! My skin had visibly improved overnight! It appeared smoother, more even-toned, and softer. It even had the nerve to perform better than the few popular expensive night creams that I have tried. I won't bring up names.o_0

Anyway, if you have a Big Lots near you, go pick this night cream up TODAY! Nicel also makes a day cream and an eye cream with great ingredients. Truthfully, I had been eyeing this cream for a year until I decided to try it. The price kinda put me off, but I am soooo glad I tried this.

Happy Monday!!

xxxx

Bitty Boss

I am...

...an awkward person. I say things that are only funny to about 1/4 of the population and I guess I can be described as somewhat of a neurotic. It is so lonely sometimes in a world that focuses on being "normal." Thank God for the folks who understand me. I get so many people saying I am random and weird. Thank God again for that. No cookie-cutter black girl here.

Amen.

Bitty Boss

Monday hair share

Check out my sexy puff! I did a braid out on damp hair and swept into a puff for work today. I used Tresseme Climate control conditioner as a leave-in and used Softee Stimulating Growth oil (see last week's post) to seal the moisture in.





Please excuse my shiny forehead and gratuitous footage of the bathroom in the background.

Gracias <3

Bitty Boss

"They call it stormy Monday..."

Welll, it's not stormy, but it feels like there is a storm in my brain. Not the good kind, either. You know how you have those days where you feel like you "cain't get right?" Work is kicking my butt as I work at a call center and Mondays can be downright TERRIBLE. Everyone calls in with their complaints that they have been holding and perfecting all weekend and MAN are their issues complicated.

Anyway, I just had to get that off my chest. Ow. My head is starting to hurt, but lunch is just a few minutes away and I am looking forward to my meatball sub. Now, on to prettier things:

My nails today!



Colors are courtesy of Wet and Wild. Looking back, I should of added one more coat. I must apologize to Santee, my beloved dollar store polish. I needed to look elsewhere for polishes last weekend as the dollar store down the street had just been robbed and was closed for a day. Who would rob a dollar store?!

Oh yeah! And I found a blog that I adore and is right up my alley. This little gem is called The Retro Natural (http://theretronatural.blogspot.com/). She features retro styling tutorials as well as her view on vintage cars, clothes. MOST importantly the tutorials are for retro-inspired styles on natural hair. I love flaunting various vintage styles from the 30's through the 50's with a natural twist and I believe I have officially hit pay dirt with her blog. I may even attempt a few if I am not dead tired after work this week. Check it out!

Have a great week!

Bitty Boss

Damn Blogger

I seem to go around in a cirle when trying to reply to your nice comments! This is so frustrating:-( Let's see if it works when I'm not on my work computer.lol

YAY!

I see I have gained a few followers in the past few weeks! Thanks for thinking that my little musings are worth checking out every once in a while. :-) I started this blog as a casual virtual diary of sorts and I am happy for the outlet as well as the new friends that I have gained during this experience. In the spirit of Ren and Stimpy...Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Welcome!

P.S. I guess I might as well tell you my real name.

xxoo

Bitty Boss aka Ameerah

Review: Softee hair growth stimulating oil

I LOOOOVE it when I find a cheap-ass product that works wonders.

Lemme just say I am super-excited about this oil! It is waaay cheap, has great ingredients and is effective in making my hair soft. The BIG deal: It is available at your local drugstore! I picked up this bottle from Walgreens a few weeks ago and it has not done me wrong yet. I use it to seal in moisture when styling right after a good deep condition. It is light, smells good, has a lot of great ingredients in it and it is supposed to assist in hair growth without the irritation that can come with other stimulating hair growth products. Sorry for the lack of decent pics, but I am at work and today is a horribly busy day!

Here are the ingredients:
Soybean Oil , Meadowfoam Seed Oil , Shea Butter Extract , Capsicum Extract , Black Pepper Extract , Coffee Extract , Rosemary Extract , Safflower Oil , Wheat Germ Oil , Retinyl Palmitate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Cholecalciferol , Hops Extract , Balm Mint Extract , Chamomile Extract , Yarrow Extract , Nettle Extract , Horsetail Extract , Neutral Henna Extract , Fragrance , Red 17 , Yellow 11

Sounds yummy right?!

Here's the instructions on the bottle:

Apply to hair and scalp (damp or dry) and massage gently. Great for daily moisturization and shine or use in your weekly beauty regimen. Deep or hot oil treatment: Apply a generous amount to your hair, comb through for even distribution, cover with a plastic cap and heat under the dryer. Rinse or lightly shampoo if necessary..

And now for the best part...It's only $3.49 at Walgreens! You can hunt it down for a cheaper price at your local beauty supply, but it just doesn't get any better than that people. I am waiting for it to appear at my local dollar store, but I digress.

Pssst!I have even used this on my feet and skin with the same results! You can find out about more of their oils and products at www.softeeproducts.com.

*The only thing that I would advise is this: This oil has a lot of stimulative properties to it, so if you have high blood pressure be cautious or advise with your doctor.

Check it out today and enjoy your weekend!

Bitty Boss

Workin hard!

These first few weeks of my new job have been hectic! But not to fear, y'all are stil on my minds. I have a couple of product reviews coming up on Thursday and a couple of personal updates as well. Hope you all have a great week. See you Thursday!

Bitty Boss

Show and Tell

Happy Thursday!

I have been a busy mofo for the past week but alla that hard work has definitely paid off. I will be starting a new job next Tuesday that I am over-the-moon about. It is at an amazing women's clothing comapany that is right up my alley. Although busy, I did manage to keep my beauty game tight!

Here is a snapshot of my roller set the other day. It turned out bouncy, silky, and strong. Sorry I only have this one pic as my arms were a wee bit tired after all of that rolling and detangling.



Products used for roller set:

Silicon Mix Leave-In
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss and Shine Polisher
Grapeseed oil

I also went on an instant gratification trip to my favorite ghetto dollar store
down the street from my house. I cannot stress how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE this color!
Don't sleep on dollar store nail polishes! I am going back this afternoon to pick me up a few more of these babies. I believe the brand is Santee.



Have you seen this brand before? I know I haven't, and I thank God that I did.

I am sooooo looking forward to this Fourth of July weekend. Time to throw on a sundress and enjoy an ice cold beer!

Adios! :-)