Do more. Study less.

February, also known as Black History Month to many, is the month to remind African-Americans of the history and accomplishments those before us achieved but each year I began to become more disappointed. I felt disappointed because the only event that was constantly talked about every Black History Month was slavery! I always thought that Black History Month was supposed to inspire us and make us proud of where we come from but instead each year we were constantly reminded of the pain our ancestors endured in their time. Certain parts of our history I didn't learn about until I was a young adult. For starters, I never knew about the history of  Black Wall Street.  I was also taught that the Black Panthers were a hate group but what I didn't know was that was far from the truth. The Black Panthers did many good things for the black community like providing jobs, food programs, and monitoring police behavior in black neighborhoods- and these are just a few events to name.  On the bright side, there were people around who created history and I was able to witness it all. 

Eloise Brown, one of my great-grandmothers may not have been known how Martin Luther King was but she was nothing short of being black and excellent in my eyes. Eloise, or Nana Brown for short, had her hands in all things creative and she kept me inspired. She was a natural-born teacher to those around her. She not only taught English but she also taught Art to Senior Citizens at the Hannan House located in Detroit, Michigan. My Nana Brown was just an all around creator. She created beautiful paintings, she sewed clothes, and she was also an author! Witnessing my great-grandmother and all of her achievements really inspired me. She inspired me to embrace the creativeness that lives inside of me and take matters into my own hands because that is what she did. My great-grandmother didn't wait around for doors to open for her, she created the doorway herself! She worked hard and used her 'god-given' talents to take her wherever she wanted to go- she created her own history.

Underestimation IS key!

"I've always wondered why me? What was it about me to make people brush me off or disregard my entire being? I have always viewed myself in the brightest light because I truly know who I am and what I am capable of. What bothered me is that the next person didn't see what I saw..."

Finally taking action to follow your dreams is a very big step in life. You will soon notice that everyone will not believe in you and your abilities. In fact, many people will doubt your ability to excel in life. I don't necessarily know the reasoning behind this, but I'm sure there are more reasons than one. We all view ourselves in the brightest lights and it only takes one person who doubts us to ruin a portion of our self-esteem. In the past, I found it hard to relate when someone would tell me not to worry about what others thought of me. In moments of being underestimated, that is your only concern; what others think of you! I have tried to figure out why others don't see in me,what I see in myself. It was quite exhausting and hurtful even, but as time went on I've learned to stumble but never fall. Words can hurt sometimes but always pick yourself up!

 It's not you; It's them.The most important lesson to learn is that not everyone will see your potential. Expecting someone to see your potential can hurt you in the long run because you shouldn't expect anything from anyone! I'm a firm believer in just letting your work speak for itself. At times, people underestimate you simply because you don't meet their expectations. The most beautiful thing about life is expecting the unexpected. Some people have this image of what a talented or successful person looks and acts like- and you don't quite fit that image to them. You may believe that's your problem but it isn't- It's their problem! Successful people come in many different forms! Being yourself plays the biggest part in anyone's success so if we all looked and acted the same then individuality would no longer exist! 


Prove them wrong. There comes a point in life where you have to let those who doubt you continue to do so and just prove them wrong. Earlier, I said I couldn't relate to those who say  'don't worry about what others think' but now I can because I know the truth. We go through many different stages in life and I realize I wasn't in the stage that I am in now. You can't spend too much time caring about what someone says about you because if you do, you will have no time to focus on and accomplish your dreams! The truth of the matter is, people are always going to talk! I'm no stranger to being underestimated,and it honestly damaged my self-confidence. Now, it just activates my drive! When you truly know your destiny, nothing can stand in your way. It doesn't matter what others see in you, it's all about what you see in yourself; You control your own destiny! 

So why hasn't being underestimated stopped me from following my dreams? Simple. I've made it this far for a reason! My dreams matter to me so I...

Hoodie By: Maxxnn & Kooln Outfitters, LLC

"Change is inevitable..."

Photo Taken by: Lauren Beard (Facebook: Lannette Photography)

 Since a new year is approaching, I have taken the time to really self-reflect. As any other year, 2016 was definitely full of ups and downs. This year wasn't always so positive, after all, this year I have encountered some really negative situations. But after having some time to myself to think, I have turned those negative situations into positive life lessons ( or inspiration if you may). In doing so, I have come up with some goals, and these goals are not just for 2017. These are goals that I want in incorporate into my everyday life to help me achieve my goal of becoming a better person.

#1: Be more positive!
- You can never go wrong by being MORE positive which is why this is number one for me. I am the type of person to plan things in advance so that they go smoothly- but in life, things don't always go as planned and that is when I stress myself out.  I have noticed that whenever I am in a stressful situation, I tend to freak out and think and speak negatively. In the future, I would really like to work on thinking more positively and speaking positivity into existence. When it comes to things not going my way, I would really love to be more receptive to it. I have to keep in mind that life is all about balance and stress KILLS!

#2: Never sell myself short!
- It's pretty much self-explanatory, I sell myself short. I lower my services all in efforts to not come off as rude. In the future, I would love to just stop doing that all around. I've come to learn that there is nothing wrong with charging for any service that you provide and you charging for your services doesn't make you a bad, mean, or rude person!

#3: Articulate myself better
- I am the first to admit that I am socially awkward so socializing with others was something I was never 'good' at. In result, whenever I am talking with someone who doesn't know me well, I could come off a certain way. I could come off as sassy, aggressive, anti-social, sarcastic, etc. and in reality, that was never my intention. Now, being socially awkward will never change for me and I don't want to change simply because that is who I am. But in the future, I would like to be better at letting that be known to others. 

#4: "No."
- For some reason, I have come to believe that saying no is wrong. I am the type of person who is always putting someone else's needs and wants above my own. I need to learn that I am not obligated to always go out my way and do something EVEN when I don't. It is definitely okay for me to say no and doing so doesn't make me a bad person!

#5- Be more independent!!
- I would like to be able to show more of my creative side and do my own thing! I no longer want to work towards someone else's dream; I want to focus on my own. I want to be able to create my own opportunities and be my own brand- and I don't care how long it takes! 

I am looking forward to the new year simply because I look forward to life as a whole. I am prepared for the good and the bad. I know that each day will teach me a new lesson and as long as I am learning, I am growing! I want to hear from you all, what are your goals for 2017?

Let's Talk Natural Hair: My Top 5 Tips On Retaining Length!

 Many have wondered what I do to my hair to make it grow and there are some things I want to clear up.  As long as you have healthy hair follicles, your hair is always growing, but the question is are you retaining the length? Many people think that their hair isn't growing but in reality, their hair is growing it's just breaking off at the same time. The major key is very simple, love your hair and your hair will love you back! 

Tip 1: Clean Scalp!
Who said that dirt grows your hair again? Growing up, I have heard many myths and dirt growing your hair is definitely one of them! In order to retain length, I make sure my scalp is squeaky clean because a clean scalp encourages healthy hair growth. Plus, who doesn't like their hair to smell good?

Tip 2: NO HEAT!!
When first going natural, I loved the idea of straightening my hair to see how long it was- I was curious. Like the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat but in this case, curiosity killed my hair. I straightened my hair for my one year anniversary and I quickly learned what heat damage was. My curls were loosened and damaged; cutting away the damage is the only way to get rid of it. So, I cut my heat damaged hair and since then I have not used heat ever again!

Tip 3: Deep condition, deep condition, DEEP CONDITION!!
 Curly hair is naturally dry and needs moisture in order to thrive! So I make sure to deep condition my hair every time I wash it. Deep conditioning not only aids in adding moisture to my hair but it also helps in adding the nutrients my hair needs so that it is shiny and stronger than ever!

Tip 4: Avoid tension hairstyles!
In the beginning of my hair journey, I wore all types of extension hairstyles; box braids, Senegalese twists, sew-ins- you name it! In result of me wearing those styles, my hairline began to recede. I became familiar with traction alopecia very quickly. The hair around my hairline began to grow back once I stopped putting tension on my hair. 

Tip 5: Low manipulative styles are KEY!
Say what you want, but I like to keep things simple by letting my hair do what it wants! It's a reason why my go-to style is the twist-out. The twist-out is a very simple style and it lasts for awhile so that I don't have to constantly have my hands in my hair! When my twist-out style gets old, I just throw my hair up in a puff and I'm good to go! I will say it again, low manipulation is key!!

I hope these tips were helpful to those who are considering going natural, new to being natural, or those who are already natural. We can all learn things from each other, so what are your natural hair tips? Feel free to comment below, share, and also follow my blog  if these tips were helpful to you or may be helpful to someone you know! Until next time! -Keke

Let's Talk Fashion: Favorite fashion items!

 There are so many fashion items and trends that I am in love with, but I must say graphic tees are my favorite for this season! Wearing a graphic tee is the perfect way to say exactly how you feel or exactly how you are without necessarily saying anything at all! I love the fact that one can just simply look at your shirt and instantly know what you are about. Graphic tees can also be worn with anything; high-waisted jeans, boyfriend jeans, skirts, etc. It's all about how you choose to rock it so here is how I rocked mine: 

I purchased this 'Awkward' graphic tee from a site called www.AdornedbyChi.com. I love this tee because I am awkward and I have no shame in it- that's just my personality! I paired my tee with these high-waisted jeans, knee-high boots, and this long cardigan sweater. The jeans are from Jimmy Jazz and were on sale at the time for $15. My knee-high boots are from Charlotte Russe and were $38. These boots are super-fashionable and if you are short like me, it adds the right amount of height. I love LONG sweaters (I've been this way since middle school)! This sweater was purchased from Target and it was $34. The color and texture of the sweater is what caught my eye. This sweater is perfect for fall and winter! 

Open Discussion: What's your favorite fashion item of the season and why?

If you enjoyed this blog post feel free to follow, comment and share! Until Next time, -Keke

Let's Talk: All about MY natural hair

 So, I have been receiving many questions about my hair's growth and the products that I use. Before I get into what I use, I wanted to do a little background on my hair first. I decided to go natural October 5, 2012. I began transitioning with kinky twists for several months before accepting health over length, no longer clinging to my damaged hair I finally grew tired of dealing with the two different textures, that's when I decided to big chop. I had at least 3 to 4 inches of hair after I big chopped, now in 2016, I have about 11 inches of hair from just keeping my hair regimen very simple.
 

My natural hair journey has definitely been a learning experience full of trial and error. Regardless, I did my research and paid close attention to my hair's wants and needs and these are the products that I use on the daily basis: 

Shampoo: Through my journey, I have learned that without a clean and healthy scalp your hair will not be able to retain any length. The shampoo that my hair loves is the Shea Moisture 10-in-1 renewal shampoo. I love this shampoo because it cleanses my hair and scalp without stripping my hair of it's moisture. It's also a plus that this shampoo is sulfate- free!

$10.59

   When it comes to styling my hair and keeping my hair moisturized I follow the L.O.C method. L- Liquid (water) or Leave-In, O- Oil, C- Cream. The liquid or the leave-in is to put moisture into your hair while the oil is supposed to keep the moisture sealed into your hair. Lastly, the cream is only used for styling purposes being that my go-to style is a twist-out.

I purchase most of hair products from the Camille Rose Naturals line. I stick by these products because my hair responds very well to them and also I know that most of the ingredients in these products are NATURAL. I try to avoid putting products in my hair that contains harsh chemicals.

 $13.99

Leave In: Camille Rose coconut water leave-in detangling hair treatment.

Target- $6.99

Oil: I use extra-virgin olive oil to lock in
the moisture of my hair. I have used olive oil since I first began my natural hair journey so this is definitely my staple.

(left to right) Camille Rose Almond Jai twisting butter- $15.29, Camille Rose Moisture Milk- $13.59, Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep conditoner- $17.99

Cream: I use the Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk and the Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter. There's no particular reason why I use two different creams I just simply like them both. Both are great for moisture and maintaining styles.

Deep Conditioner: As you can tell the key to natural hair is MOISTURE and deep conditioning is a must for my curly tresses. I use the Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioner.


I hope this helps those who have been asking me about what I use in my hair. I would also like to add that these are products I have purchased with my own money and I have been using these products for years. I am not saying these products are the cause of my hair's growth, these are just products that help me retain length. There is a DIFFERENCE between hair growth and length retention. If you are considering going natural, it's best that you find which products work well WITH your hair. Most importantly, going natural is an all around learning experience so enjoy all steps of your journey and never be discouraged! If this was helpful to you make sure you share, comment (yes, I am friendly^_^), and Follow!  Also, stay tuned for my next blog post on my tips on keeping your hair healthy to ultimately retain length. Until next time. -Keke

Stylin' it up with Keke: Bombers&Booties event!

About two weeks ago, I went to the Bombers and Booties event. During the event, I was able to network with fellow fashion bloggers in the city of  Detroit and of-course the required attire was bomber jackets and booties! Since I love fashion so much, I thought I'd tell you all about what I wore the night of the event! Enjoy!

Dress from Forever 21 ($32) Shoes from Pay-less ($30)

I'm the type of fashionista who loves to plan way ahead of time of what I want to wear to an event so I was set on wearing a dress. The type of feel I wanted to go for was dressy meets street so that's why I decided to go with this black dress. The dress is my style because it is simple yet it has little details that make it stand out from the rest! This little black dress is from Forever 21 and it was thirty-two dollars. This dress is sleeveless and body-con like being that it hugs to your body. The dress overall has an elegant look to it and you can dress it however you want if  the all around elegant look is not what you want to go for- which is what I did. I bought these super cute black booties with golden detail from Pay-less about 3 years ago for thirty dollars. They are made of suede material and the heel is a wedge so they were super comfortable to walk in.

Bomber Jacket from Clothing Obsessed Company ($40) 

Bomber jackets are definitely in for this fall season so even if the attire wasn't bomber jackets and booties, I probably still would have worn a bomber jacket anyway. I love bomber jackets because it gives a nice touch to any outfit. I paired this jacket with my black dress because I love the copper color it has plus the golden detail in the jacket matched the golden detail in my shoes perfectly! If you want to go for that effortless street look I suggest adding a bomber jacket for sure! 

Earrings from H&M ($12)

These triangular-shaped gold and black earring were my go to for the evening. The details in these earrings are the reason they should worn with an updo.  I did not wear an updo the night of the event and I regret it because  having your hair down simply does not do these earrings justice!

Necklace from Charlotte Russe ($10)

Who loves statement necklaces as much as I do? I bought this statement necklace from Charlotte Russe about six years ago and the necklace is still in great condition! I have to admit this necklace is my staple necklace, I pair this necklace with just about any outfit to make it POP! 

That concludes my outfit details of what I wore to the Bombers and Booties event. I enjoy getting dressed up and of course I love to share my own personal style with others! I hope you all enjoyed this post and make sure you are following my blog to stay updated on what I post! Until next time! -Keke