How to make a delicious cappuccino.

                My recipe for a delicious cappucino & a beautiful day


We are told to smell the roses each time we are encouraged to relax, take it easy and enjoy life. For a gardener like me I don't just limit myself to smelling the roses, I need to smell the Coffee as well to have a brighter day. You know... make it a " beautiful morning". During my pregnancy I had to limit my daily intake but I would literally open the cupboards and sniff the coffee. Smelling the coffee made me feel soooo much better.

If you are a coffee drinker I hope this post will make you smile!

I am not addicted to coffee by any means ( yes I say it humbly, they are people way worst), one to two cups a day is enough to make me happy especially when I have a lot to get done and I need a 'happy' boost!!!

Okay my own little disclaimer here before we get rolling:Too much coffee is not healthy but being happy is a healthy thing !!!


So today I wanted to simply share my own recipe for homemade cappuccino and share my happiness.

 My sister in-law was visiting recently and when I offered her some coffee she replied that she wasn't a coffee person and wasn't very familiar with cappuccinos. I offered to make her a cup and she asked to have just a little.
 I made her half a cup. She complained at first that I had given her too much but when I asked her minutes later if she liked it, she raised her empty cup and flipped it upside down to show me there wasn't even a drop left in it ...her proof that she liiiiiked.  So I figured...if she liked it why not 'show her how I do it'...

This is just my personal version I want to learn yours so please share your tips. If you have never made one please try this recipe and let me know how you like it!!!

My Ingredients:

• Coffee grounds.

African coffee is (with Brazilian brands of course) my favorite. After all I grew up on the motherland!!! Coffee from Ivory Coast

Image of African coffee grounds from Ivory Coast

 is the best from the continent if you ask me, but oh well that's just my biais opinion.

• Sugar. I prefer brown sugar

• Cinnamon
• Honey
• Flavoring syrup. I love Hazelnut
• Milk.  I prefer Silk Almond milk instead of dairy.
• Whip cream would be yuuummmy but optional. I stopped using it as much as I used to just because I am watching the calories,otherwise it's a great indulgence!!!
• One of many favorite cups/mugs of course!!!

Okay so what do I do?
Make the coffee as usual,
foam or warm my 1/4 cup milk ( I prefer to warm about a cup or more on the stove my kids love to drink the warm leftover).

Ready: A tablespoon of Hazelnut syrup, pour coffee in the mug, add milk, brown sugar, add a little bit of honey stir, top with whip cream ( optional) and add cinnamon.
 And voila!!!

Why Cinnamon? It not only adds flavor but also helps with weight loss soooo it's a way to limit the damage and have a drink packed with flavor!!!



What's your favorite morning drink? How do you make it?
Never had or made a cappuccino? Try and let me know how you like it!
For more fun coffee articles check here and here.


Thanks for stopping by, sharing your comments, Following , Liking the FB page, subscribing by email, sharing with your friends and all those good stuffs...(smiles)

Until next time have a better and healthier life...

N'na

Natural Skincare & Green living: Ways To Reuse Coffee and Make a Coffee Body Scrub

"Hey!!!Don't waste this"!!! These are the words I tend to tell my husband, my kids and my friends when it comes to certain things. I make sure that leftover water and leftover tea are poured on plants and when it comes to coffee it's no exception. So, I just I wanted to take some time to share some of my simple ideas for re-using coffee and hope to learn something from you guys in return!

Picture taken at a local Starbuck!

As a plant lover I learned that coffee and leftover tea, are good plant food!,
Simply pour your leftover coffee on your indoor or outdoor plants. The coffee grounds can also be used as compost. I always make sure to get some extra leftover coffee grounds from the coffee shop. It's great nutrition for acid loving plants and I must say it also seems to do some good to all my indoor tropical plants.

In the kitchen I found that rubbing some coffee on my fingers with ground coffee work as a good odor remover, especially if I had handle fish, garlic or anything smelly.  It works well too in the garbage disposal to deodorize and disinfect.  The leftover coffee can also be used as a fridge deodorizer, simply  place a small bowl filled with fresh coffee grounds in your fridge.
I love the smell of coffee so much that it's my room deodorizer of choice during the winter months. I simply brew some fresh coffee when I need to fill the house with a pleasant aroma! You can actually put some leftover coffee grounds on a cooking sheet and place it in a warm over, but I just prefer brewing.
Leftover coffee can also be used to:

Picture taken at a local Starbuck.

• Make some frappucino
• Marinate your meat
• Replace red wine when cooking meat in recipes calling for wine!
• Flavor cake or waffle recipes ( replacing milk or water for coffee)
• Mix with condensed milk and freeze as popsicle.

Replace milk in your smoothy! Deliciouuuus!
Make ice cubes.  Why wait on a super hot coffee to cool down when you can just throw a coffee cube in?!
Well there must be many other ways to use leftover cofee in the kicthen but that's my little tried and true repertoire here!

It's also possible to use leftover coffee as a dye! You can use your leftover coffee to dye paper or fabric to give it an aged look.
Did you know you can also add it to the wash water when you wash your dark color clothes?! It's also a good dye as beauty hair treatment if you have dark hair. Apply about 5-6 cups of leftover coffee to your wet hair and cover and leave it on your hair from about 15-20 mns before rinsing! But it's only a temporary dye I can not claim that it will work like Garnier!

Since I love hanging at perfumes counters and shopping for candles I also learned to use it to trick my olfactory senses. Carry along some leftover coffee beans  or grounds and inhale them after smelling a perfume! It neutralizes the scent of the fragrance you smelled previously and help you to better sense the following fragrance.
And as to my favorite use of leftover coffee grounds, a little messy I should admit but very rewarding, I use it as a scrub! Yep! I love to use leftover coffee grounds as a facial scrub or a body scrub in the shower.

MAKING COFFEE SCRUB
2 cups coarse coffee. I prefer to just recycle the one I freshly brewed
1/2 sea salt or brown sugar. I skip that step most times
3 tbsp. oil such as olive, coconut, sweet almond, jojoba etc
A drop of scented oil of choices. Totally optional!


The only inconvenience is having the grounds over the shower floor and in...well...let's say that I advise wearing a swim suit bikini when you decide to use it as a full body scrub! I don't know if it's the pleasure of rubbing something totally organic on my body, or feeling like I am giving myself what could have been an expensive spa treatment from the comfort of my home, but I love love love the way my skin  feels afterward! It's best to use fresh ground coffee as it still have many of it's antioxidant property when it's fresh. Like 20-30 minutes after you have brewed some since it will need time to cool some.
So before you think it's a messy idea ( I am making a face)give it a try because you might love the way your skin feel afterward, it's worth trying!

So... no need to let that leftover coffee go to waste right?
What do you tend to do with your leftover coffee? If you tried or try to use is as a facial or body scrub please let me know what you think of it as a scrub! Have you heard that it's claimed to remove cellulite when used as a scrub on thighs and legs?

PLEASE JOIN US ON FACEBOOK WE WOULD LOVE TO MEET YOU THERE!

• N'na

Natural hair : Tips to maintain your hair While Working out

How to Maintain Your Hair While Working Out

by Omonike Anderson

Note from the Editor.
The weather is now hot and inviting to outdoors activities and many more women are thinking about being more active, working out and losing weight but one frequent deterrent to working out is that sweat is not our hair best friend. There's a way to make peace with you hair and working out so I hope you will benefits from Omonike's tips below.

Many women of color strongly desire a fitness regimen but have no idea what to do with their hair while working out. While hair plays a large role in why workouts are usually left on the back burner, it is essential that we learn how to manage our hair during all circumstances rather than allowing our tresses to manage us.  Take back your life and learn what works best for you and your hair during your workout sessions. Here are some tips that will help maintain the healthy appearance of your hair while giving your body the physical activity that it needs.

Realize that you are already cute! I know I’m not the only one who once recited the phrase, “I want to look cute while working out.” What I had to realize is that my hairstyle did not in any way change my facial structure.  The same face I had when I rocked a beautiful twistout was the same face I had when I rocked a less glamorous style at the gym.  Once you realize that your flyness is not about your hairstyle, but about your confidence and positive attitude, protective styling at the gym becomes more of an option for you.  After all, you’re so fabulous you can pull off any hairstyle! Right? ;-)

Timing is everything: Probably one of the most significant factors to working out is structuring which workouts you will do on what days, what times, and why. Do not underestimate this tip; it requires great thought and strategy.  If your wash days are Saturday afternoons, then Fridays and Saturday mornings will probably be your best bet for vigorous cardio, while other days can be dedicated toward workouts that don’t produce as much sweat. Light workouts include weightlifting, yoga, and walking, while heavy workouts include running, dancing, and jump roping.  This list is not set in stone, so do what works best for you. If it is feasible, try scheduling your workout sessions on your off days or straight after work so that you won’t have to worry about preserving your hairstyle. If you must workout during lunch, do a light workout and save the cardio for your off days.

Prep your hair: If you have somewhere to be after your workout, braid or twist your hair beforehand and take them down post-workout for a nice braidout/twistout. If you plan on going swimming, rinse your hair in the shower and apply conditioner before your swimming session to decrease the amount of chlorine absorbed in your hair. Think of your hair like a sponge. If a sponge is already soaked, the chances of soaking up additional water are slim to none. This is the case when you soak your hair in the shower before entering chlorine water.  Remember that swim caps do not keep your hair dry, but only work to keep your hair out of the way. If your hair is a total disaster after your workout, opt for the cute trendy turban look to save the day!

Keep your hair out of the way: You’ve heard this many times before, but keeping your hair out of the way protects it from the harsh salt that sweat produces.  If you have a TWA, keeping your hair out the way is a simple as investing in a sweatband or mesh cap. Sweatbands control the amount of sweat allowed to seep into your hair and scalp, as well as protects your face from any excess hair product that may drip down and trigger acne. For those of you with a little more length, keep your hair in a high bun or puff on top of your head to prevent the ends of your hair from rubbing against any sweat produced by your nape and/or back.  

Keep your scalp clean: This is important! Sweat contains salt that attaches itself to your hair and scalp, attracting molecules from the environment and creating excess buildup that can clog pores. Think of your scalp like the rest of your skin—because it is! If you take a shower after the gym to rid your skin of the grime that dried sweat often produces, why wouldn’t you cleanse your scalp as well? While it may seem impractical to wash your hair every single day, cleansing at least once a week is a good idea. In the meantime, a tea tree oil and water mix can help alleviate excess scalp buildup because tea tree oil is an antiseptic. Simply add a few drops of tea tree oil to a water-filled spray bottle, soak a cotton ball, and dab your scalp generously.

Use Products That Help! Anti-humectant serums and heat protectants are great products to use during workouts. Anti-humectants act as a water repellent that prevents the intrusion of moisture into the hair during humid environments, while heat protectants protect the hair from the drying properties of sweat. Both products coat and seal the external cuticle layer, reducing chances of frizz and creating a barrier between your sweat and your hair strands.  While there are a ton of commercial products on the market, natural anti-humectants are Shea butter, olive oil, hydrogenated Castor oil, and coconut oil. A great natural heat protectant is grapeseed oil because it can withstand temperatures up to 420 degrees.

Get Practical! There are many cute hairstyles that can withstand a heavy workout session. Take a look and try one of these!

How do you maintain your hair while working out? What's your favorite work-out exercise and how often do you work-out and what is your hair maintenance regimen?


This article was written by the beautiful Omonike Anderson a healthy and inspiring natural. Please share your tips, what work best for you and feel free to Follow the blog, subscribe by email and Like the facebook page.


Thanks for stopping by, becoming a Follower, Like the FB page, subscribing by email and for sharing your comments.


Until next time happy health journey to you!
N'na

Natural Hair: Hair Journey & Protective Style Jumbo braids

Jumbo braids.

                    My Journey to Jumbo Braids
                                            By

                                       Larisa Dawkins (aka Nap Risa Py)

            So I’m at an in-between state with my hair….too short and not too long. It is giving me fits…..so I decided to do some protective styles. I started out getting a wig made, however, as soon as it reached 90 plus degrees outside, I had to forgo the wig!! So, I decided to try a modified “Curly Girl Method”……BIG SIGH…..I hate wash and go’s but I tried it anyway…..I got about a week into that and realized that it was not going to work for me……then, I had an epiphany…..Jumbo Braids!! I started researching on YouTube and found a few channels that had an example of the braids I was looking for. There are several different names for them: Jumbo braids, poetic justice braids, Solange Knowles style braids, etc….. So, I figured why not try it!! The styles looked easy to maintain, versatile (you can wear them in several different styles), long wearing and requires hardly any maintenance (I am natural, but I’m a lazy natural….teeheehee) !!! PERFECT!!

Where did you get the hair and how much did it cost you?

   My first task was to find the hair. I went to my local beauty supply store and asked and wouldn’t you know it…. they actually have braiding hair called, Jumbo Braid hair!! No kidding…but it really is 100% Kanekalon hair and it costs $3.99 per pack. It does come in a variety of colors and most packs were about 18”…. so I got 5 packs. I still wasn’t sure, so I went to another beauty supply store and bought 5 more packs that were 24” long!! I know, what can I say; I live in Texas, so go long or go home!!! LOL!!

How long did it take to braid and how many pack of hair did you use?

Now, I am not a braider, so I asked my resident braid expert, my Niece Meme, how long this would take….she said 3-4 hours…..we started at 11:30pm on a Friday night and did not get finished until 0930 the next morning….yes, you read that right, 10 HOURS!!!!! UGH……let me be honest with you guys, I have a GI-NOR-MOUS head , so we used 9.5 packs of hair and it took 10 hours…..for the average person, I believe it would probably take about 3-4 hours, especially if you went to a professional braider.  But when you are being frugal, and have a tendency to change styles, as fast as I do, you realize you have to forfeit some things!! 

Jumbo braids

How long do you plan on wearing the braids and how do you maintain them?

My goal is to wear the braids for a month…so far so good!! I’ve washed my scalp once so far and it was pretty easy. The challenge is not wet the entire strand of braids, as the drying time will be much longer. But just focusing on the scalp and the length of the braid that intertwines my hair, has worked out well.  Anyone looking for an easy to maintain style that is versatile and long lasting should check out Jumbo Braids!!  And yes, you do need a strong neck!!!

Jumbo braids

The pictures above were kindly provided by Nap Risa. Please do not copy without written consent.





N'na

Words of Inspiration~ How to stay motivated

Hello dear friends.

June is now here and we have made it half way in the year.
I know... that went fast... real fast...

How are you all doing? What about all the resolutions you had early this year? Making progress? Stuck in a rot? Got off the bandwagon?

Well, wherever you are I am sure there are some areas where you are probably doing very well and deserve a tap on your shoulder and a reminder that You Can Do It!!! Whatever your dream, your goal...whatever your "It" is/are....You can do it!

So here we are!!! Half way into the year 2012 you can move forward with a new attitude

A new walk
A new point of view
A new purpose for everything you got to do...

(Please Pause the music player above if you haven't done it and enjoy the video below. The Lyrics of Bravo by Ledisi are very inspiring)

Bravo

It's my new " anthem" for the rest of the year.  I am celebrating life, I am clapping for myself because I found new strength, I am still standing and still pushing and moving forward and I am so FULL of gratitude. I am grateful for many things such as  my 4 months old daughter, my children, the lessons learned already during the first half of this year. I am grateful for the blessings that have unfold this year, for the promises of many radiant days ahead and for Life.

Yes I am celebrating life and I hope you are or you will.
I invite you to clap for yourself
Step forward for the rest of the year with your new walk
your new point of view
and your new purpose for everything you do.

Be radiant like Ledisi below. I picked this picture because turquoise is my favorite color, because she is very feminine on this picture and she is looking up with a bright smile while sitting on the back of an old car.

To me the picture offers many life metaphors. I hope it would suggest you some inspiring ones for the rest of the year. Have a great 2012 for what's left of it and make the best of it. In the meantime BRAVO to you...




What message does the video leave you with? Is there any situation in your life the lyrics of the song and/ or  the photograph speak to you about? Do they support your current metaphors of life or suggest some new ones? Is there any change you are inspired to make? Any new perspective you gained?








N'na

Benefits of Apple Cider for skin and hair

The post below was written by Gaurav Jaggi a fellow blogger from India who contacted me about his desire to write a post on a subject he specializes in. Since I use ACV daily and have also used it on my hair  I figured it would be great to learn and share more on the subject.

ACV for Gorgeous Skin and Great Hair by Gaurav Jaggi

First, let’s just say that we all want great skin and hair; hence we invest so much in hair and skin products.  We can never tell what the perfect skin product is and advertisers don’t make it any easier to know what product to settle for.

Skin and hair differs, so do the products we are supposed to use in maintain them, so what do you do if you aren’t sure what to buy and how do you know if what you buy is really what your hair or skin needs?

Well here is what I think is quick answer to all that: Apple Cider Vinegar

There are numerous Apple Cider Vinegar benefits and it is your solution to great hair and skin for the following reasons:

Fewer Toxins, Great Skin

A liver with few toxins is a great liver and a great liver translates to great skin. Drinking a solution of apple cider vinegar in water up to three times in a day promotes great liver functions. It reduces the toxins in the body making your skin clearer and healthier looking.

 Washing with apple cider vinegar directly also promotes great skin however the ratio of water to apple cider vinegar should be 10% apple cider vinegar dissolved in water and you wash using a cotton wool or a soft cloth.

Shiny Healthy Hair, a Rinse Away

Don’t we all hate having dandruff?  It seems hard, costly and frustrating to try to get rid of dandruff yet there’s a very simple, affordable and effective solution: Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar will offer you shiny looking, bouncy and healthy hair.

Vinegar, first of all, helps to promote the health of your scalp, while the solution of apple cider vinegar can eliminate dandruff and maintain the volume of your hair by reducing hair loss.

Better yet, apple cider vinegar is best for removing styling products that have accumulated over the years from styling your hair.

In order for this to work for you, wash your hair and rinse in the solution of water and apple cider vinegar, make sure the solution reaches your scalp. Let it rest for up to 30 minutes, then rinse. You should do this minimally, once a week.

The Mother, Apple Cider Vinegar

To get the best from apple cider vinegar, you should go for the ‘mother’ – this is basically the suspended liquid formed when you age apples (organically grown), in a wooden barrels, ‘the mother’ is pungent and slightly dark brown and in the light it’s feathery and cobweb like. This is a sign of good ‘mother’

Remember, apple cider vinegar has been used for year for its many medicinal purposes. Raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar contains all the enzymes and life improving nutrients that are good for your health and that of your hair and skin. You can find out more about Apple cider vinegar benefits.

Thanks for reading this article please share with us how you use Apple Cider Vinegar in your daily life and benefit from using it!




N'na

Natural hair: How to transition from relaxers to natural hair

Natural hair: 
How to transition from relaxers to natural hair.
                 10 Tips for easy transitioning
                              by N'na

I have transitioned for over a year before enjoying my natural texture and have learned a few things over this incredible journey. Going natural has taught me more patience than I had and opened my life to so many new things. Below are some of my tips that have made my experience enjoyable.

1) Do not rush to big chop. Cutting you hair is not the only way to go natural.

2) Do your homework and ask a lot of questions.

3)Make up your mind and have peace with your decision.

4) Deep condition you hair at least every two weeks for healthy hair.

5) Continue getting your hair professionally done or caring for it in the best of your abilities. Going natural is not an excuse to neglect your hair. Preferably stick to hairdressers who are experienced in treating and styling natural hair.

6) Get you hair trimmed as needed. Cutting your ends gradually will facilitate its growth and the transition to natural hair.

7) Use products and treatments that work best for you hair. You can use protective styles, products from professional brands with no paraben and/or  kitchen/natural products such as coconut oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Shea butter.

8) Love the process and be patient. A transition is just that, a journey to a chosen destination. It's a special time worth enjoying and impatience can influence you to make decisions you might not be pleased with.

9) Surround yourself with supportive people and if the ones closest to you are slow to share you excitement, remain confident in yourself. Our loved ones will always turn around because at the end, all they care about is our happiness.

When you don't get the support you expected remind yourself that it's not personal they just want you to make the right decision based on  their own belief system.

If you are married or have a boyfriend it's important to have his support and his input. Do not neglect your man's opinion and tactfully show him why going natural is best for you. 
I was very fortunate to have my husband's support from the get go but I have always valued his input in the process as we discussed very frequently the beauty of natural hair.  http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-am-coming-out-call-to-naturals.html

10) Attitude is everything. Beauty is a whole package deal. It's not just hair so as you learn to take great care of your hair take great care of the whole you as well.

We would love to learn from you. Are you new to transitioning or have you been doing it for a while? How long? What's your tips to transitioning? Which one of the tips above best relate to your journey?


N'na