I think I might be adding a business spotlight section

I have for a minute...okay I lie for almost the entire year thought of a plan to promote other bloggers who might actually be online retailers, and then I thought that I needed to stretch out that idea a little more. Due to this current economy I know several people who are starting side businesses in order to have an emergency fund, or to make sure that they can get by without living check to check. So, I feel that in order to help my fellow entrepreneurs I decided to open up the blog for those who are interested in being featured on my blog. We can do a mini interview via e-mail so we can make sure to give the important details to your clientele, especially if you are involved in handcrafts. If you are someone who does artwork/products/apparel/etc. please PLEASE please make sure that you have quality pictures that can be displayed. Please do not post your business information in the comments because 1) I'm trying to keep this business casual, as in I want it to be formal enough that customers will take you seriously, but also laid back, and 2) I also want to make it so each product/service gets a chance to shine. That's just improper etiquette honestly, and hopefully that won't have to be mentioned again. In return for my promotion of your business, please either donate a little change i.e. finders fee, or we can work a discount on your product/service. Sounds fair right?
Okay well.... let the fun begin!!! :-)

I'm in a hair rut

As much as I love my hair, it just sucks! I have fine dense type 4 hair (coils ans kinks), and darnit yesterday I was trying to find a way to do a braidout to make my hair fluffy and "strong" for yesterday's weather/cookout. I know one thing my hair came out STRAIGHT!!!, which upset me so much I even woke up Mr. T so he could see my pouting face and see my tantrum (lol yeah I got a lil' diva/bratty). He saw my dilemma, said "dag, sorry" and rolled over. Okay I don't blame him because it was 6:15 in the morning, and he was probably like why are you up fuming about your hair. I seriously wanted a puff, and my hair came out silky with waves (like it did when I was relaxed and did hairstyles like that). I told my mother, and all she could do was laugh at me and say "and you think you and your daughter have the same type of hair? ha!" So, I did what I normally do...twist strand twists, this time with flat twist in the front. This will then turn into a twist-out at the end of the week, since that is the only way I can have a successful twist out. My issue is now that we're in hades territory (weather, people talking about the weather...Satan knocked on our door with a box of popsicles talking about it was too hot for him, so you get the picture lol).  What can I do besides braids or a wig? I can see me now in the office after walking from my break, snatching my wig off fanning myself with said wig talking about "whew child it's hot and funky out there!" I know last year I cut my hair in the summer with the go to wash'n'go, but now I have some length with major shrinkage so that's not going to work for me.
While we're on the topic of hair, okay so umm this conditioner actually is pretty good. I have the coupon for a $1 off, but still working that bottle and the Rosemary Mint (disappointing because I wanted tingle, but great for detangling). I did also buy QUEEN HELENE Ginseng & Tea Tree Shampoo for All Types of Hair 16oz/473.1ml which didn't have the tingle factor I was looking for (if you've used Fantasia Tea Tree shampoo or Dr. Bronner Peppermint that's what I'm talking about), but didn't leave my hair feeling stripped while still feeling clean. I did go off of the advice of another blogger's suggestion with a good deep conditioner. I bought this conditioner, and it was worth it! I did a test first before adding it to my hair. I used it as a leave-in to see if I do a decent coil out. Left it in until my hair was dry, and boom took out my coils with no issues and had soft boingy hair. I highly recommend this conditioner, and it also has that beloved argan oil. Argan Oil courtesy of Diary of a Hair Obsession
Okay that's it for my rant, but I was really calling out for some hair style suggestions besides locs (won't start doing those until later on this year). If you happen to see someone with a youtube link please don't hesitate to post them in the comments section.

So yeah we're in the house chillin' literally because it is 90 outside, and we don't have our blow up pool ready for this (even though I think Miss A would have to fight with her parents for a spot in the pool lol). Stay cool folks!

Memorial Day Weekend...kick off for the summer

The official start of summer here, and that means pools are opening, the official family gatherings around the bbq (official because I know that my father has sparked up ol' smokey), and that also means more time to have fun! I even know where I'm currently on assignment, they have already initiated the holiday program where you have your Fridays off. So, with all of that free time are you really going to just sit around the house, or on your patio? I would hope not, and just to make sure you get off of your rump.

Of course since I'm the queen of trying to stretch my money out as far as I can, I did a little digging around for family activities (sorry for the single folks, but I promise to find some activities for you guys...Girl Scouts honor).

The National Harbor is currently having movies out on the harbor. All you need to do is bring a diaper bag (full of the usual stuff, no outside beverages..MUST BRING BUG SPRAY/LOTION WHATEVER). This Sunday they will be showing Coraline. For those who do have cable I know you're like "ugh bugs and crowds" look at it like this you won't be stuck in the house, the kids will have something to do, and all you pretty much have to pay for are parking, the snacks, and Off!. National Harbor Movies on the Potomac If you're on Facebook make sure to add them as a friend.

If you're an artsy family like we are you will love the Corcoran Gallery of Art's Free Summer Saturdays.http://www.corcoran.org/freesummersaturdays/index.php
The first event is for this upcoming Saturday "Sketching in the Atrium" all materials are provided, and you get to sketch a live model. Hopefully they mean a bowl of fruit (shoot they're "live") because if it's a human that means they will be a snazzy stick figure with some obscene body parts (IJS, I'm just saying lol). Check out the link, and then afterwards you and the family can go to the National Mall and have a little picnic.  *bring that sunblock and insect repellent something about DC metropolitan area mosquitoes, they bite with a vengeance!

If you haven't noticed so I'm telling you to get outside, get some Vitamin D, stimulate that brain and those bodies. It's a struggle on my part with my family...husband lol, but little one and I try to be active and go out. I'm waiting for neighboring counties to give some information on their upcoming summer activities, and then I will post some more information. Until then check out DC's facebook fan page, Downtown Silver Spring, City of Alexandria, Prince George's County, e-Government page w/ upcoming eventsFairfax County Fan page, City of Baltimore, plenty to do around the city and the Inner Harbor, Loudon County , Montgomery County, City of Rockville , and let us not forget the reason why I posted National Harbor fan page. If you really don't feel like dealing with the crowds, just go for a walk in your neighborhood park BUT do NOT forget that bug spray! lol Cannot say I have not warned you enough!

Free Sundaes at Walmart

Verbatim from their facebook post this morning:

"Come in today for a free sundae at your local Walmart. Get three big scoops of ice cream plus Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, Reddi Whip and fresh strawberries. Find a participating store at: http://tinyurl.com/WalmartSundae"

Might as well make an outing of it I guess, go to the store with the kids (if I were going to Little Gym today would be right after our class). Or you can just probably snatch up the coupons they have, and say to yourself "how dare you just limit me to three scoops of ice cream?!" *clutch your pearls in disgust and head towards the ice cream aisle* I'm not a big fan of sundaes, but the inner undergrad in me is like "pffffft it's free!" I'll have to make the next promotion because I have to play nurse to Mr. T since he pulled several muscles in his left torso. Might need to bring the little one, and make it journey to our neighborhood drug store. That will tucker her out I know that much. :-D

Enjoy your Saturday folks!

 

Free or near free Yoga events in DC (dust cloud)

Okay so today starts the beginning of DC Yoga Week, and I did mean to post it earlier but better later than never right? (insert cheesy smile) Okay so for those who are looking to de-stress, or just to get a bouncy yoga butt here at the spots that are offering free events/classes for under $10. DC Yoga Week

• May 16th head on out to the National Mall for free yoga workshops, which include even workshops such as hoop yoga. Think of it like this as circuit training (cardio, stretching, "weight lifting" REPEAT)
• Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill The classes held M-TR and Saturday are $5, but on Friday if you just so happen to start your day early, you can drop in for a FREE  6AM class. 
• Bikram Yoga Dupont Circle I think this one might be a good deal for the college students nearby (if they're doing summer classes/internships).  Monday through Friday: 6:15am and 9:30am classes are Free Monday through Friday: 12pm classes are $5...they encourage you to sign up in person instead of online (guessing they want to have a better count).
• Bikram Yoga Tentleytown

Sat. 5/15 @ 4pm - FREE
Mon. 5/17 thru Fri. 5/21 @ 9:15am - $5.00
Mon. 5/17 thru Fri. 5/21 @ Noon - FREE
Mon. 5/17 thru Fri. 5/21 @ 5:30pm - $5.00
Sat. 5/22 @ 4pm - FREE

• Boundless Yoga $5 classes Saturday May 15, 9 a with James
  Sunday May 16, 2:45 p (One Pose at a Time)
  Monday May 17, 8 p  with James (Yoga for Athletes)
  Tuesday May 18, 8 p with Erin Duncan
  Wednesday May 19, 7 a with Erin Dowdy
  Wednesday May 19, 8 p with Leah
  Thursday May 20, 6:15 a with Valerie
  Saturday May 22, 9 a with James

There are plenty of others, but due to me not really trying to bore you with a huge post I have included the link to the main page for you to check out the studios closest to you. Ommmmm

Help save a young life!

So while be up once again like I have to go out for church (I get my church fix via TV, most of the time) I decided to actually pay attention to the Sunday news. Well good thing I did because there was a story about a little boy, 4 years old, who is suffering from a rare form of leukemia (APL). Unfortunately, doctors only have 11 days to be able to find a viable match for bone marrow. In Devan's case finding a match is a difficult task because of his mixed heritage (South Asian and Caucasian). Missed a bone marrow match drive they held yesterday at the Mayflower in NW, and luckily I found his blog site (after searching on the local news site with no luck). So, this is a call out to those who have a similar racial background to help out this little boy. I would post his picture, but I'm not trying to get myself in trouble so I included the link (you can either click on the blog title or on the link following) to the blog his family members put together for him.
http://www.matchdevan.com/

Argh my toddler is driving me nuts!! *pulls hair*

Okay this is usually what I sound like when I am in the house, and we have watched every movie in sight, played every game I can remember and walked around the block before I find myself having to stop her from trying to run in the middle of the street (her new version of tag).

So, for other Moms out here, or those playing Mom on the weekend to relieve their friends or family members, I'm going to try to find some activities that are: 1) local, 2) as free as possible, and 3) something that won't make you want to live with ear plugs for the rest of the day (Miley Cyrus *cringe*).

Well my go to is The Little Gym of Clinton, where they have plenty of activities for you and your little one(s). They offer playdates, where if you're a member you only have to pay $10, which includes an hour of running around, and pizza and juice for the little one. Non-members I think you have to pay $20, but shoot hey think about it like this your kid is occupied, you're getting a chance to be active, and within 2 hours they'll either be going to bed or taking a nap. Ohmmmmm Sanity Ohhhmmmmm *closes eyes*  The Little Gym of Clinton

I'm still looking for outings in the DC, MD, VA metropolitan areas, and if you guys happen to have any activities that are family friendly in your area please feel free to share.