It's a Hair Thing

Goddess flat broad cornrows

        To braid or not to

        braid, that is the 

        question!

   

    

Most African American women know that when push comes to shove that they have the option to braid their hair.  Choosing this option will save them time and, in some cases, frustration from numerous imperfect hair days. 

The bad hair days she faces: 

• Natural curls- tends to shrink mid-day, resulting in an unflattering length
• A blowout- prone to curl up in moist weather 
• A straightener- liable to frizz up in adverse weather conditions
• A weave- can be very expensive requiring high upkeep

 Hence, braids have become the practical option!

Long spaghetti twist out

Advantages to braiding

Of course, the first sitting can be mundane, but it's an investment, because afterwards it won't be necessary to touch it up for weeks!

Time saver: literally can go from bed to done in minutes!

Low Maintenance: After a workout literally wash and go! No combing, blow drying or straightening

 Healthy: Depending on hair type, due to the lack of stress on the mane, the follicles are healthy and the hair veers toward growth

 Plethora: of lengths are available thanks to extensions

 Versatile: up dos, down, casual or dressy styles are always an option.

Corn row Twist up do

Go for it:

    With all of these advantages it's not surprising why so many 

    savvy sistas have opted for this look!

    Also, with the shift in our culture of inclusion 

    the path has been paved for expression by ethnic groups.

    So go ahead and braid it, twist it or lock it! 

    The choice is yours!

Sophisticated mid-parted 
Box braids

     Anita AKA Aniyah

    The Mommysavior 

    Note: Weekly Food for Thought is now 

    "Writer's Block"

    End

Obstacles

Obstacles anyone?  

Why are only some of us given hurdles, while others soar through life?

 Diana's story:

I was baffled after my former colleague (Diana) expressed the effortless process it took for her to register with an employment agency that we were both affiliated with. She pleasantly explained how one languid call led her to a recruiter who became eager to work with her. The headhunter simply requested a copy of her resume, ID and a few references; a few days later Diana was sitting at a desk, typing and talking her way into a permanent position with the prestigious company she had been placed with.

 Anita's story:

Wow, oddly enough for me, I contacted the same employment agency as Diana, however I had to go through a long and arduous process before I could even step my foot into the door of the inaccessible agency.  After my first point of contact with Todd, I was instructed to:

• Go online and complete an official application
• Take a one-hour assessment test
• Engage in a 30 minute- Duo (video) interview
• After I was selected, I had to drive one and a half hours to the employment agency to produce my ID, and references

Really?.... So why was my story in opposition of Diana's? Umm..

Why was I given such strenuous tasks, while my counterpart coasted through the procedure?

This is a type of question that I often ponder upon. How is it that some individuals seem to glide through life, have such luck, and seem to face little to no adversity; while the rest of us are constantly burdened with challenges that seem insurmountable?

Those who are challenged: Possible Answer:

• Maybe those who are challenged have a higher purpose, therefore they must possess stronger endurance?
• Maybe those who are challenged are simply unlucky?
• Maybe those who are challenged balance out the earth?
• Maybe those who are challenged build character and go on to do great things? 

Those who are not challenged: Possible Answer:

• Possibly lived on this earth in a past life and had already paid their dues?
• Possibly have good Kharma?
• Possibly are here to balance out the earth?
• Possibly think positive thoughts, therefore have favorable experiences?

So, what do you think it is? Why do some suffer with infinite obstacles, while others get to enjoy a 

delightful, euphoric and blissful existence on earth?

Weekly Blog segment- Food for thought...By Anita AKA Aniyah, The Mommy Savior:)

Why Vs. How

 

The challenges we face on a daily basis are astronomical, but yet we somehow overcome them and sometimes persevere. 

We ponder on the "why".  So, let's think about some of the "why" thoughts that saturate our minds:

-Why are we facing this pandemic, and when will the aftermath end?

-Why don't things just stay the same?

-Why do we have defected relationships that are toxic and eventually end?

-Why didn't we pursue that degree ten years ago, so that we don't have to tolerate dead end jobs?

-Why aren't we living in our dreamhouse or driving our dream car?

-Why is our health failing? 

-Why aren't we as smart, pretty, fit, sharp or desirable as we once felt?

Umm, great questions, but the quintessential question isn't Why, it is the How that we need to focus our energy on! 

How am I going to get back in shape, get a higher degree, improve my relationships, and consequently lead that blissful life I deserve? 

"How" must be our focus!  Yes, the "How"!

                                                                                                       Food for thought, Aniyah

                                                                                                        The Mommy Savior

White anyone?

If you are looking for something fresh and crisp to wear this summer, think no further!  Just opt for something white! With the fall shadowing upon us, it's essential that we finish out the summer brightly before we must transition into autumn colors. 

White White White White White White White!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why white?

-Besides the authoritative color of black, white is the opposing color that helps us look just as sharp, but in a soft and subtle way

-Its pallid element repels the sun, enabling us to stay cool and comfortable in hotter weather

-Consisting of an achromatic and neutral hue, it pairs with any accessory we may already have in our wardrobe, saving us a shopping trip

-If you gravitate toward metallics you are sure to shine with this ivory base

And lastly, if you want to make an impression of confidence, honesty, innocence, and purity for a first date or a social event, then WHITE IS YOUR SHADE!!!

End

Striving toward a Bliss life!!!

Anita AKA Aniyah The MommySavior

 

Is Death the End? My Hope

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             I pondered upon whether my spirit will stay after my physical remains have left this earth.  These are the questions I asked myself:

Questions

-Are we locked into a dreamlike state?

-Who is the gatekeeper of our souls?

-Who decides our fate?

-Do we transcend into another place?

-Does our soul go into limbo between worlds?

-Do we take up a permanent residence in the heavens, or woefully in hell?

-What truly happens to us?

It dawned on me that the answer to these questions may remain a mystery.

   My Hope

My hope is that we can somehow communicate with the living albeit even if it is simply to give them comfort after our death.

My hope is that we transition into a utopian atmosphere where we reunite with our ancestors.

My hope is that our fears, pain, and anguish dissipate.

My hope is that all our atrocious deeds are forgiven.

My hope is that our memory reminds others how sacred our short stay on this planet was, however not in vain.

These are my hopes. What are your questions for the end, and what are your hopes?

 End

Aniyah: The MommySavior -" Time is the only commodity"

 

To Wig or not To Wig

Candid View

I recently had a compelling conversation with a male figure (we will call him Edgar) whom I happen to love and respect. What I had not realized prior to our candid talk was that our point of view was extremely contrasting, specifically when it came to the black (women) experience. 

Edgar (a black male) had expressed that he wanted to start a campaign against black women wearing wigs/fake hair. His belief was that they wore the artificial hair due to a lack of self-love.

His opinion was of conviction and creed, so I had to disarm myself in ordered to be opened to heeding to his position. After patiently receiving his message, my vigor came out because it was time for my voice to be heard. 

My Sentiment

 I began by validating some of his mass statements, then I countered by rhetorically asking:

Are you aware that the traditional images of white woman in our society are an illusion filled with trick lighting, flattering poses, and nowadays are also enhanced with photoshop software?

Did you know that hair coloring is exponentially higher for white woman and many other ethnic groups as opposed to black women?

Have you thought of the possibility that black women are not the only group who gravitate toward adorning their hair with extensions?

Since most of us can agree that yes, photos are touched up and Caucasian women have traditionally colored their hair, particularly blonde more often than women of color; I decided to expand by focusing on wigs and extensions. 

I let the questions marinate so he could ponder upon them, then I elaborated with a few sources to share my logic:   

Extensions

Unfortunately, Bad hair days happen to us girls far too often. Either because the weather did not agree with our do, we were in-between washes, or simply because we did not have the time for the flat iron that morning! Due to this reality, we usually accepted that we cannot measure up to the ideal idolized “perfect woman” with the cultivated hair and body!  

Spoiler Alert: That image that we might have been admiring on the latest cover of Elle magazine may just be a little deceitful! That perfect body, tan and luxurious hair are all made up so that we could spend money on beauty products, making worthy the media’s advertising dollars! Yep, we have bought into the illusion!

According to pro hairstylist Priscilla Valles, an estimated 97 percent of female celebrities regularly rely on faux hair pieces to lengthen and pump up their natural look (Daily Mail.com).

 In addition, newly released hair extension statistics (Hairtrade.com) divulged that almost 90% of women who wear extensions keep them a secret from friends and family, and 34% of them use hair extensions on a regular basis. 

More than three quarters of those polled (76%) said that they wore extensions to add volume, with other reasons for wearing them including a desire to look more glamorous, the ability to change your style quickly and the fact they could be applied at home.

This group consisted of not only blacks, but other groups as well.

 Wigs
Yes, wigs are popular in the black community for some of the same reasons other groups wear extensions.  To confess some black women, have hair issues or have succumbed to the ideology that long, fine hair is better, however let us not jump to judgement so quickly, because not every black woman agrees with this line of thinking.

 Wig Advantages for black women
 Many of us (yep, I have a whole collection of wigs myself) simply want the versatility the wig brings to our style, appreciate the low maintenance, enjoy saving time, see the advantage of protecting our own natural hair, also identify it as a great solution to grow out a bad or short haircut. These are all practical reasons black women may opt for a wig.

 So let the truth be told, many women of various nationalities invest in their appearance for a variety of reasons. So, before it is decided to bash black women for wearing wigs, let us gather the facts which will reveal that it is not just a BLACK THING, but it is a WOMEN THING!

 End

Aniyah AKA The MommySavior
"Making it count" Aniyah
 

Are you Ready for the Summer?

Hey ladies, in my last post I shared the color palette to get you ready for spring and summer along with a few nice picks. In case you have forgotten your color palette, I've included it at this end of this post! Now it's time to really get you geared up for the upcoming summer months!  

Let's not worry about those few extra hibernation pounds we've gained. Once we start moving again, some of those pounds are sure to shed anyway!! (At least I hope. LOL).  The good news is that regardless of that extra storage space on our bodies, a flattering silhouette is sure to please the eye!!!

So check out my latest picks for your summer silhouette.  Enjoy comfort, style, all at relatively affordable prices!  Now who can say no to all of those elements?

Also, due to your feedback, I've included the shopping links for your convenience! Please note that all styles may not be available, but you are sure to find a similar style on the site.  

These styles work well with most body types. I think you will especially enjoy my plus size picks; so I will start off with plus size! All of my plus size selections are from the brand Eloquii.  Enjoy:)

https://www.eloquii.com 

https:// www. lightinthebox.com

https://www.zulily.com/

https://anniecloth.com/

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

https://www.lightinthebox.com             

     https://zolucky.com

   

    So ladies that sums up my picks for you! 

    Stay tuned for my must have tips on how to look and feel youthful, regardless of your age!!! 

    Anita, AKA Aniyah: The Mommysavior

   "Today is the best gift I can receive" Aniyah

___________________________________________________________________________

   As promised, here's your color palette for spring/summer 2021: