Weekend in Pictures - Baltimore Inner Harbor

To celebrate of my "xxth" birthday this month, take a break from the rigorous demands of course work and retreat from the stress of my 9-5 I was gifted with a road trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The harbor area is one of the regentrified and safer areas of Baltimore. Geared at tourist, sports fans and young professionals the area offers a variety of activities and restaurants that echo the fresh, new spirit of a city that has seen it's share of rough times. 

The highlights of the trip: Rachael's Dowry, and the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Check out the pics after the jump...




STAY 

I had the immense pleasure of staying at Rachael's Dowry. A fully restored,Victorian style, Bed and Breakfast, located near Baltimore's inner harbor. It's just off the beaten path and somewhat lesser known than area mega, brand corporate hotels which only adds to it's sweet, romantic charm.

Product Review: Vegetarian's Delight

Wheat Meat, Mock Duck, Gluten Meat, you may have seen these names in the vegetarian section of restaurant menus or heard these names mentioned by Vegan/Vegetarian friends when referring to meat substitutes. Ever wonder what it actually is? The answer is Seitan!

Seitan, is a food made from wheat gluten, hence the name "wheat meat."It has become a very popular non-Soy, meat substitute, and alternative to Tofu. It is basically wheat flour dough that has been relieved of it's starch content. In restaurants it is often used in Asian cuisine.

I first became familiar with the product through my friend and fellow blogger, Naeemah.

Snore No More: Product Review-Silent Snooz

Research shows that as many as 50% of people snore habitually or at some point in their lives. The tendency to snore presents more often in men than in women. The causes are linked to things like stress, allergies, poor diet, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, and serious conditions like sleep apnea, but if you're living with someone who snores you probably already know this, and the only real question you might have is "How can I make it stop?!"

So here's the skinny. My boyfriend snores and I am, unfortunately, an incredibly light sleeper who was fast becoming a very cranky partner. I tried every solution I'd hear of: "rollover nudges," removing, and hiding the pillows, those nasal strips, I even began wearing ear plugs to bed. Nothing seemed to work and it was beginning to cause irritation in other areas of the relationship. Not wanting to end up like one of those couples you hear about who live under one roof but in separate rooms. I set off on a search to for ways to manage the situation.

Eat & Drink: Black Swan, Brooklyn, NYC

Last Saturday night was Girls Night! I crossed the Manhattan Bridge into the multi-cultural, mutli-ethnic, urban hang suite that is Brooklyn! Our intention was to hit First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Musuem but Jersey to Manhattan traffic thwarted those plans.

I did, however, get to sashay around town to a few different restaurants and hot spots. Most memorable was Black Swan on Bedford Avenue. This rustic bar & restaurant has a "speakeasy," pub vibe. The bar staff was very friendly and just right on the "pour," if you get my drift. The music was upbeat and moody without being loud and overbearing. The owner, who explained that he named the bar for a dream he had about a Black Swan, was very gracious and made his rounds to ensure the patrons were having a good time.

If you're in the area stop by. I didn't get a chance to sample the Eats but I hear that they do Brunch like no other. When you stop in be sure to ask for Jordan. He makes a mean Hot Toddy!

 I gave the Turban look a spin. My twist out was still wet. I'm kinda diggin' the look!

Black Swan

1048 Bedford Avenue

Brooklyn, NY

www.blackswannyc.com

To "Eataly" And Back

Last week Naeemah and  I went to the grand opening of Eataly in Union Square. Mario Batali & company's uber fresh, quintessential, Italian market. It's actually" the largest Italian  food and wine market place in the world," according to Mariobatali.com  Located on 23rd St. and 5th Ave, the buzz about the opening of this place has been crazy in the food community for months. Eataly is how you eat, drink and shop Italian. When in the market  for Italian fare whether it's  Espresso or fresh, dried pasta they've got it. The market/eatery boasts 6 eat in restaurants and individual take-out counters through out for sweet treats like Gelato, and savory selections like Focaccia.

Review: Avalon Organics Awapuhi Mango Moisturizing Shampoo

Last weekend I switched up my shampoo and purchased Avalon Organics brand Awapuhi Mango Moisturizing Shampoo from Ricki's in NYC, one of my favorite beauty supply haunts.

*Sidebar* My hair is naturally curly so I only shampoo, with a sulfate-free product, twice each month. Other than that I co-wash or wash with a conditioner only, every 3 days. If you are natural or follow other blogs or sites dedicated to women of color with naturally curly hair you are probably familiar with these terms and processes.

The shampoo I used previously, the name escapes me-I'll explain shortly, was making my hair very dry, and tangled despite numerous changes in conditioners. I was drawn to this product  because it claims to be a "moisturizing" shampoo. I didn't know there was such a thing.

Benefits
According to the website awapuhi, a type of ginger plant, softens and shines and mango promotes moisture and cell rejuvenation. It maximizes softness, and manageability

Other Key Ingredients:

Aloe, Ylang Ylang, and essential Orange oils

Price: $9.99 at Ricki's NYC | $8.95 on the brand's website

Size: 14 FL oz

Fragrance: Sweet, fruity, tropical scent

Other Features: 100% vegetarian, paraben-free, synthetic fragrance-free, Sulfate-free, PH balanced


My Experience:
I shampooed one side of my head with the Avalon brand and the other side with my old shampoo and noticed immediately that the Avalon Organics made my hair feel softer. Shampoo tends to be very harsh on my hair making it very dry and tangled but this product almost felt like a conditioner in that my hair still felt soft as I rinsed. I usually de-tangle my hair before washing so once I added conditioner-Jason's Aloe Vera Conditioner,and rinsed with a final cool rinse,  it was relatively easy to comb-through and style.

As a product junkie I've used a LOT of shampoos but never had these type of results, I was so happy with the results that I immediately discarded my old brand of shampoo, which is why I can't recall the brand, I will definitely be keeping this shampoo as part of my monthly routine. I plan to try some of the other shampoos offered by Avalon like Peppermint or Olive & Grape Seed. I'd also like to see how the conditioner performs since my experience with the shampoo was so positive. I'll keep you posted!

For more information log on: www.avalonorganics.com

NYC Fashion Week: "Project Runway" Finale Runway Show

Last week I was fortunate enough to score tickets to the taping of the Finale Show for one of "Project Runway," which took place last Wednesday during Mercedes Benz- New York Fashion Week.  As a fashion enthusiast I've been a fan for some time, though I have to admit I took a break during the lackluster "Bravo v.Lifetime/ 'We'll give L.A. a try'" season, but I digress.

The PR Spring/Summer 2010 show, along with many others took place at the prestigious, Lincoln Center, the much debated new home of Fashion Week. For those not familiar with the Lincoln Center complex, it's actually considered a "campus" with numerous buildings, including the Julliard School, conveniently located on 16.3 acres on the west side of NYC.

Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia were in attendance as judges with special guest judge Jessica Simpson. The show was incredible! Collections from the remaining 10 contestants on the show were presented in order to prevent spoilers of the actual network finale show which will announce the actual winner.

This is the Lobby area featuring lounges for Fashion Week sponsors.

Kim Crawford sponsored hand massage lounge.

Myself and friend Chimere who also attended the show.


Here's a taste of the looks seen that came down the runway (courtesy of The Cut at NY Magazine):

Andy: Inspired by a dream...

April: Inspired by dusty dolls at a tea party, then washed away...

Michael C.: Inspired by his friend...

 

Michael D.

Mondo: Dedicated to his spiritual advisor, his Grandmother...

Valerie: Rainbow Brite meets David Bowie

Casanova: Inspired by his Grandmother...

Christopher: Inspired by Roots, grace & romance...

Gretchen: Inspired by self discovery...

Ivy: Inspired by her home islands of Hawaii...

So who do you think will end up in the "Top 3"? Any guesses on who might be this season's winner?? My top 3 include Valerie, Gretchen and Mondo, but I'll definitely be tuning in during the coming weeks to see who makes the cut.

Hair Hydration: Avocado Deep Conditioner

Avocado, a fruit well known for it's nutritional, and dietary benefits, it's also been known to increase elasticity and softness when used on the skin, but do you know what it can do for your hair?

Avocado conditioners or masques have been used for years to help stimulate growth and intensely hydrate the hair. For Naturalistas, like myself, this is music to the ears!

After years of blow outs, doobies, and flat iron "torture sessions," my once springy coils have gone limp. I now have multiple textures in my hair as the new, curly, healthy hair grows in and the dry, stringy, damaged hair grows out. Hydration is key for naturally curly hair, when trying to prevent breakage while promoting or maintaining length.

I found this recipe, from stylist Leonardo Rocco on divavillage.com.

Ingredients:
1 Avocado
1 Egg Yolk
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil (or your favorite natural hair oil)

Directions:

1. Mix (a) one mashed avocado(b) the yolk of an egg and (c) a tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl.  Be sure to use force when mixing to ensure the ingredients are completely mixed. It should have a yogurt like consistency. (A food processor, or hand mixer is helpful here.)
2. Apply the mixture to clean wet hair to the scalp first and then down towards the ends of the hair. Separate hair into sections and then massage sections in an up-and-down manner for ease of penetration into the scalp.
3. Place a plastic cap over the head.  Sit under dryer for 20 minutes. If you don't have a dryer wrap a towel around your head over the plastic cap (turban style) and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
4. Rinse the treatment from the hair completely, followed by 1 shampoo with "sulfate-free", "no poo" or "low poo" shampoo, (shampoo step is optional)  and your normal conditioner.

I tweaked it a little by swapping out the Olive oil for Almond and Vatika oils and adding a little honey. A word of caution prior to application, it can get a little messy, so keep a towel handy!

Results:
My hair was softer and bouncier than normal. I did not much of my usual oil and products prior to doing a twist out since the deep conditioner seemed to have adequately quenched my thirsty curls. I'm going to keep this deep conditioner as part of my bi-monthly wash routine to see if it really helps with length and over all hair health. I love that it's so inexpensive and easy to make. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Hard Grove Cafe- Jersey City, NJ

Breakfast Tostada: scrambled eggs, avocado, black beans w/ Veggie Steak and Red potatoes

I had brunch Jersey City's popular Hard Grove Cafe last weekend for the first time. I always thought they specialized in heavy Mexican food which I wasn't too excited about. My friend, who has lived in Jersey City for a while, informed me that the Hard Grove served some of the best Cuban food in the area.

Cuban Skillet: Scrambled eggs w/ red potatoes, veggie sausage, peppers and cilantro sauce

The breakfast was tasty! They serve "veggie" steak and sausage as an option. Health smoothies with and without alcohol were available. They have outdoor seating in the summer time and a full bar. The restaurant's decor has a cuban flair and might easily fit in among restaurants on Miami's famed Collins Avenue. Without a beverage meals are priced at $10-$12 a plate.

I tend to feel that Dinner and even Brunch are the meals that can define a restaurant.  I'm looking forward to sampling the dinner menu next time!

Trader Joe's Refresh Citrus Body Wash

 It is with sincere and utter trepidation that try new Over The Counter (OTC) make-up and skin care products. Last week, while at Trader Joe's, one of my fave places to shop, I purchased "Trader Joe's Refresh Citrus Body Wash." I've been using it for a week now and I'm pleased with the results.

I have very sensitive skin. Now, when I say "very," that's probably an understatement.  "Uber-sensitive" or "extremely sensitive" would better describe my status.

I have Eczema. I've dealt with this inconvenient, moisture-defying skin ailment since birth. There's no cure and hundreds of triggers, i.e caffeine, chocolate, lanolin, nickel, etc. As part of my self-imposed "treatment" I rarely wear perfume, try only to use skin care products that contain ingredients I am familiar with, and never use bar soap as a cleanser. I can honestly by maintaining a healthy diet, along with moderate exercise has played a large role in my ability to manage this condition.

Not being a fan heavy, perfume-y smells, I really like the light refreshing citrus aroma, which can be really exhilarating in the morning.  Refresh, a great cleanser and doesn't produce a large amount of lather or leave skin feeling tight, dry or filmy. Even after my ritual "loofah scrub" my skin felt soft and nourished.  It contains "feel good" ingredients like, Echinacea. Ginger, Ginseng, and Chamomile. The 16 Fl oz. bottle was only $3.99, which is saving considering the $7- $9 I usually spend on body washes like Dove and Oil of Olay. It's also cruelty free, and the bottle is 100% biodegradable! I can't say that I always think about both of those things when making purchases but I always feel better when I can make purchases that support agendas that matter to me.

Good Hair Day-New All Natural Concoction

Here is a shot from yesterday's twist out. My hair is beginning to take moisture better. It looks like there might still be signs of life somewhere in spite of all the roller sets, and Chi Flatiron/blow outs I've been subjecting my delicate locks to over the last 2 years.

Last night, I created a Honey & Olive Oil treatment that I left in for about 2 hours after doing my normal co-wash. This got a little messy so I wrapped my hair up in a towel which helped heat the treatment and better saturate my hair. After rinsing thoroughly I decided to try an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) rinse to see if I could smooth out strands and close up the cuticles to lock in moisture. [A tip from  blogger : www.themoptopmaven.com and www.curlynikki.com] I was really skeptical about the ACV rinse and wasn't sure what it would do more than give of a pungent odor. I was pleasantly surprised to find that after the rinse my strands were noticeably more flexible, and bouncy. Dry, brittle ends-gone! For the twist out I didn't even need to add a curl butter or oil because my hair was still so nourished from the Olive Oil & Honey treatment! I then applied a bit of setting lotion to each section and wrapped with Flexirods.

My hair loves the Honey/Olive Oil mix and the ACV rinse worked really well. I will be adding these elements to my weekly hair regimen in the future.