Tag: self discovery

How I Create A Self Care Kit

How I Create A Self Care Kit

JcCee50 Comments

Hey loves, have you been enjoying the first week of the new year?  I have been working on tasks to help me with some goals that I started working on the end of the last year.  Last year, I attended a training in self care and it was mentioned how important it is to create a list of self care activities to have at any given time.  As I was looking back on last year, I realized that I participated in self care activities a lot.

I picked up a pretty basket from Target and was trying to figure out what to do with it and decided to use it to store my goodies I use for self care and created a self care kit.  I can imagine self care kits have been around a long time and I find them to be great tools as you are been proactive in maintaining your health.

Say, you had a long day at work and you are exhausted but you get home and continue working because you have duties to do at home and crashed. You wake up the next morning to do it again. You continue to do this for weeks or months at a time.  You find yourself tired all the time and sometimes not wanting to do the tasks that you set for yourself.

Your body and mind has not had time to relax and break from everyday wear and tear.  This is when self care plays a major role in our lives.  When you take time out to care for yourself, you are giving your body and mind a rest and a moment to relax.  A moment to calm down from all of the hustle and bustle.  After that rest and relaxation, you feel good overall, you feel rejuvenated, you feel some peace, etc.

I know after I give myself some self care I am able to develop solutions to certain things better.  Every one self care kit may be different but the goal is the same. I picked objects that I like and that will help me relax.

self.JPG

Coloring book

I started Adult coloring last year.  It is such as relaxing and peaceful time for me and it allows me to be creative and to decide how I want my picture to be.  I am in full control and I can color out of the line if I want to. Ok, that is a great feeling sometimes especially when life can seem the opposite.

Journal

How do I even began about journaling?  I love love it.  I write down thoughts, ideas, happy moments, sad moments, dreams, goals, etc. It takes a lot to get me upset but when I do some of the things that come to my mind do not need to be said out loud but I can write them down to get them out.  After that, I am able to focus on why those words or thoughts were my reaction, think about the situation, and respond or react appropriately.  As I mentioned in a post a while back, the pen can write what you can not say.

Mug

I love this mug, “Don’t Kill My Vibe.”  When I saw it in the store, I was like I won’t let you lol. I don’t know what I was referring to exactly, maybe the infamous “negative self talk” or people who try to kill your dreams. I think it will be a great reminder though during my coffee and tea for self care moments.

Coffee & Tea

I just love sitting in my favorite chair and sipping on some coffee or tea depending on which one I am in mood for.

self1

Essential oils, candle, & favorite lotion

Aromatherapy is the business. It makes for a great spa day/night. I love scented candles & essential oil diffusers.  Their scents make the atmosphere of the room so relaxing and smell of essential oils may help relieve stress.  I use them for the morning and evening. I love the zone I get in when I use them in the morning when I am writing down my grateful moments. I also love the zone they put me in when I use them in the evening with a long bath.  I light my candle, have some relaxing music playing, some epsom salts (not pictured), and essential oils in my bath and just relax.

Music

I use my phone or iPad (not pictured).  Music is therapeutic to me because some songs can describe how I am feeling and also how I want to feel.

Sometimes, the objects in my kit may change but for the most part, these are what I use now.

Do you have a self care kit?

signature 2

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

5 Powerful Quotes on Gratitude

5 Powerful Quotes on Gratitude

JcCee9 Comments

I love reading quotes.  They can make you laugh as well as uplift you.  They can help you to see the good and greatness in your own life.  They can be inspiring, encouraging, empowering, and motivating.  They put the focus on what you can do to make your life better or peaceful.  Since participation  in gratitude can help you start your day off positively or turn a bad day into a good day,  I decided to share some quotes on gratitude.

5 Powerful Quotes on Gratitude

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings-Willam Arthur Ward

 

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and create a vision for tomorrow-Melody Beattie

 

It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment-Naomi Williams

 

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance-Eckhart Tolle


 Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things-Robert Brault

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

If you enjoyed these quotes, you may like Gratitude Jar, Gratitude makes life fulfilling.

signature 2

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

3 Positive Ways To End The Day

3 Positive Ways To End The Day

JcCee104 Comments

3 Positive Ways To End The Day 


3-positive-ways-to-end-the-day-2

In order to be productive for the week, it’s important to let go of any stressors that may have developed throughout the day.  If we hold on to daily stressors, we may wear our mind and body down overall.  Also by holding on to yesterday’s stressors, this helps us to focus more on the next day stressors which will make it difficult to get in solution mode for solving them.

I discussed a few months ago about How important it is to start your day with a boost of positivity.  I will say this post is part 2 of that post.  I don’t think that we can have a positive way to start the day routine without having a positive way to end the day routine.

So, let’s get on with it.

1.  Giving thanks.  

A. This is one of my favorite and you can use this one for starting and ending the day.  It just something about finding thankful moments put the mind in a better place.  One way to complete this is by journaling.  Write down your thankful moments.  I love writing my thoughts down. 

B.  Since your mind is in a positive place, why not keep the positivity going with by making a list of your accomplishments for the day.     Okay, you have documented thankful and accomplishment moments.  If you still have some tasks left on your to do list, don’t feel bad, just add them to the next day.      

I have found myself adding more tasks before completing other tasks and this cause me to feel overwhelmed which was the reason for the post, Don’t Stress! Go for a laugh. 

If you have accomplished every task on your to do list, jot down 3 tasks that you want to work on the next day.  This helps give you a great start to step 2, Make a to do list .

2.  Relaxing activities.  As I discussed in Simple Way To Relieve Stress, sipping some calming tea & doing absolutely nothing is another way to end the day great.  This gives you time to calm your mind down from the activities of the day and just relax.  It’s like unplugging from it all.  All it consists of is enjoying your time doing absolutely nothing.       

A spa bath is another great one I love to do also.  I get my candles, soft music, lavender oil, epsom salt, stress reliever by bath & body works and I am all in.  

3.  Give yourself a bed time and stick to it.  I discussed the importance of getting the recommended amount of sleep in 5 Tips to Reduce Stress.  This is very difficult for me.   I struggled with this one daily.  I was doing fine with it a few months ago but I can’t say that now. 

I try to give myself a bed time but then I think of an idea or I want to research something for the blog and there goes my bed time.  My husband will roll over and ask, “You still up?”  “Yes, I just need a few more minutes,” I reply.  Ha, those minutes turn into an hour or hours.  I am working on it though.    

There you have it.  Work in progress is definitely the definition of my life and I love it because I am taking control and working on doing better.  Some days are easier than others.  I am learning to enjoy progress.

I hope you enjoyed reading about 3 Positive Ways to End the Day and I would love to hear about some ways you participate in to end your day.

If you like this post, you make also like 3 Simple Ways to Give Your Day A Positive Boost.

Let’s stay connected.  Don’t forget to like Facebook page.

This post has been shared on Fridays Blog Booster Party, Pin Worthy Wednesday,  Wednesday’s Wisdom, Link It To Me, Wake Up Wednesday, Thriving Thursday, Pinterest Love,  Ultimate Pinterest Party,  Pretty Pinterest, Motivation Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Shine Blog Hop, and Merry Monday.

signature 2

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

How I Deep Condition My Dry Hair

How I Deep Condition My Dry Hair

JcCee1 Comment

I have been on my hair care journey for about five years.  Throughout out a hair care journey, your hair may require different things. It is important to listen to your hair.

Due to having extremely dry hair, I have to deep condition my hair weekly.  I mentioned the process a while back in a post about hair regimen.  The products may change but the routine is mostly the same. I may prepoo sometimes or not depending on what my hair needs.

I am like 14-15 weeks post relaxer.  I will be doing the prepoo this month during my weekly conditioning.

1.  I do the prepoo of oil (I used extra virgin olive oil with a few drops of black jamaican castor oil) for about one hour.  I may use another oil depending on what my hair needs.

2.   Since my hair is extremely dry, I need to co wash before the deep condition process.  I wash my hair standing in the shower (this helps reduce tangling)

3.   I start on the deep conditioner process (depending on how my hair is feeling I may skip the co wash and just deep condition on dry hair but my hair needs the co wash this time). I add the conditioner mixed with a little oil to my hair by individual parts and twist them to help reduce tangles. My hands get heavy with this step.  I apply the conditioner as I would apply a relaxer for the first time (from root to end) and leave it on for at 2 hours.

The 2 hours pass by fast because I found myself occupied in blogging stuff, cleaning, netflixing, social media, or more blogging stuff. 

4.  After the 2 hours, I wash it out standing in the shower (this reduce tangling).  Let my hair air dry for about 60% and spritz a mixture of aloe vera juice/water. (leave in conditioner).  Depending on if I need a little protein, I will use Cantu Shea butter leave in conditioner instead but the aloe vera mixture has been doing good.  

I finger comb my hair during this time.  Next, I let the air drying process complete.  

5.  The final step consists of moisturizing and sealing. I put some plaits in my hair and I am done.

Oh, but there is more.

There are a couple more of steps I do after the wash day on the next day.

I finger comb my hair and oil my scalp with the oil of my choice.  After I finger comb it, I use a wide tooth comb. I give my hair room to breathe by just letting it hang out for that day.

The most important thing that I have learned while caring for my hair is to listen to it.  It will let you know what it needs.  Products may change and the specific type of need may change also.  Happy Hair Journey

How do you deep condition your hair?

If you like this post, you may also like Protein Treatment/How do you put protein in your hair.  .

signature 2

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Yay! It’s My One year Blogiversary

Yay! It’s My One year Blogiversary

JcCee12 Comments

Happy One Year Blogiversary to http://www.journeytoahealthyme.com

Happy One Year Blogiversary

 

This is a smoothie that I made about 50 weeks ago during the beginning of my blog journey.  I decided to showcase it for this moment.

anniversary

 

So, I received this message on last week.  Yes, time has been flying.  First, I would like to thank everyone who has ever checked out my blog, commented, liked, or shared something from it.  I am very grateful for all of the support y’all have provided.  I hope y’all found some inspiring or encouraging words while visiting.

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can -Arthur Ashe

The quote above really sums up my journey so far in blogging.  As I look over the progress I have made,  I am so glad that I took the leap.  I did not have a clue what I was doing when I started this blog on last year.  I am still clueless to some things but the more I do it, the more I learn and progress.  I am excited to see how this year go.   I have to give a great big ole Thank You to my husband because he believe that I could do this before I did.  He has been very supportive.   I thank God for him.

I started this blog to document my journey to a healthy and happy life and inspire others along the way.  I have been in a place in life that was not so good and seeing  inspiring/encouraging words helped me out tremendously.

Sometimes, life don’t go as planned but you do not have to be a victim of your circumstance.  You can still strive through it.  If you fall down, you can get back up.  You don’t have to lay there and let negative thoughts stomp all over you.  You deserved to be happy.  You deserved to have a happy life.

Journey to a healthy me is one year old!!!

Thanks again everyone for following along the journey!!!

Let’s stay connected.  Don’t forget to like my Facebook page.

signature 2

 

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Journaling Can Be Therapeutic. Do You Journal?

Journaling Can Be Therapeutic. Do You Journal?

JcCee47 Comments

Journaling Can Be Therapeutic.  Do You Journal? Journaling Can Be Therapeutic. Do You Journal

I’ve always loved journaling as a way to clear my mind.  Whether I’m traveling or at home, the first thing I do when I wake up is pull out my notebook and record positive things that have happened to me as well as uplifting thoughts -Gloria Reuben

I love journaling.  I have been writing down my thoughts and ideas for years.  There have also been times when I didn’t and felt that I should have.

Have you ever had a great idea or thought and when you tried to think about it again, you couldn’t.   When I think back on it, I  wish I had taken the time to write them down.  I wish I had taken the time to entertain the ideas through writings on paper.

But anyways, I try to keep a little notebook with me at all times.  So, when those thoughts come, I can just write them down.  I have a few notebooks that I utilized now.

Journaling can be very therapeutic when you fill the blank pages with your thoughts and feelings.  Emotions can be trapped inside causing negative energy to flow in you.    The releasing of those emotions can be just what you need to feel free.  Sometimes, emotions can be written down instead of spoken.  The pen can write what you can not say.

Do You Journal

 

I have one  that I use to write about healthy things including meals and fitness.

I have one that I use to write about random thoughts, emotions, and feelings.

I have one that I use to write about ideas, goals, and dreams .

I love to go back and read some of the writings that I previously wrote.   It helps me to see how much I have grown, what I still need work on, and where I may be heading.

Do you journal?

Let’s stay connected.  Don’t forget to like my Facebook page.

signature 2

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

 

Updated Hair Regimen with Ways to Add Protein & Moisture /Workout Schedule

JcCee5 Comments

 

 

Updated hair regimen with ways to add protein and moisture to hairlength check

I am constantly a work in progress.  When working on improving yourself, you will not have time to worry about what others are doing.

My updated hair regimen is different from when I initially started my hair journey.  It is similar from the one I created two months ago but it was not appropriate for my texlaxed hair at the time(was texlaxed maybe 1 1/2 yr. at the time).  It was a struggle to handle it properly.  I understand that everyone is different but relaxing every 3-4 months work for me.  Throughout a hair journey, there will be times that you will modify or adjust your hair regimen to fit your hair needs.  There is a list of products that I use here.

My husband relaxed my hair one week ago and I am refocus on my hair journey. I am no longer texlaxed.  My hair is so manageable now.

Shampoo once a month with clarifying shampoo to remove buildup of products.

  • Deep conditioning after shampoo with a moisturizing conditioner for at least 45 minutes. (Sometimes I add oil to my deep conditioning)
  • Use a leave in conditioner after deep conditioning. Cantu shea butter or aphogee Keratin Green Tea Restructurizer
  • During the detangling or combing process, use a wide tooth comb or finger comb the hair to reduce breakage.  Finger combing is my preference.

Note: The final rinse of any wash process is use with cold water to help retain moisture.  After the wash process,  I use an old t-shirt instead of a towel to get excess water out of my hair.  By using a t-shirt, I will be reducing fizziness, pulling of hair, and scrubbing.  I let my hair air-dry afterwards.

Co wash 2x a month

  • Follow with deep conditioning and leave in conditioner.
  • During the detangling or combing process, use a wide tooth comb or finger comb the hair to reduce breakage.  Finger combing is my preference.

Moisturized hair with a water-based moisturizer and sealed with an oil nightly or every other night (depending on what the hair need).  Scurl/oil of choice

1x a week I use leave in conditioning repair cream from root to end and oil of my choice to help strengthen my hair (it only takes a small amount).  Cantu Shea Butter

Oiled and do scalp massages 2x a week with an oil of choice (increase blood circulation and help with stimulating hair growth).  Currently using Jamaican Black Castor Oil.

Do a protein treatment 1x a month if needed

  • During the detangling or combing process, use a wide tooth comb or finger comb the hair to reduce breakage.  Finger combing is my preference.

If shedding occurs, do a black tea rinse (boiled a few bags of black tea and when it cool down pour it all over the head).  Let it sit for a couple minutes.  Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.

Trim when needed.  Make sure to baby the ends (moisturized them) to help reduce the number of times of trimming.

Sleep with satin/silk cap or bonnet.

Relaxed every 12 weeks.

If want to flat iron, I will use a heat protectant.  I may only flat iron 2x out of the 3 month span.

Probably the last month before relaxer time, I will be prepooing to help soften new growth.  My definition is adding oil all over the hair from the scalp to the end and putting on a plastic cap before bed before wash day if my new growth seems unmanageable.

Drink water.

Eating healthy and working out also is important for the healthiness of hair.

Protective style will be my wig.  I will have my hair plaited underneath.

I was struggling with my hair due to the way I was working out and it been texlaxed.  I could not wash it often as I should and the working out was drying out of my hair.  I will only workout out close to Wash day.    I decided to workout on Sun, Mon, & Tues. right before Wash day (hair) on Wednesday instead of working out at least 5-6 days of week and drying out my hair because I am unable to wash it often and condition it.  I will continue with my hair regimen and on Wash day, I will make sure that I do a deep conditioning to put moisture back in my hair that I may have lost due to working out.

.  fitness

Again, some products that I use here.

Happy healthy journey!

signature blog

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.