CisterSpeak

Moisturizing Treatment for Dry Breaking Hair

Every once in a while my hair can go through a pretty bad dry spell.  If touching it doesn't give it away I can usually tell when I have to break out the vacuum and attack the bathroom whenever company comes over.  Otherwise you'll find little broken hairs all over the floor and around the sink.  Not to mention they're all over my collar too.  Well if you find yourself in the same boat, here's a remedy that works really well for me.  *Do keep in mind that I'm a dry 4b hair type* 

Get A Handle on Your Money: Mint.com review

Apparently I've been sleeping under a very large rock and just recently heard about mint.com.  I'm literally kicking myself in not having found it months ago because it's exactly what I've been looking for.  Keeping track of your money habits is time consuming and much more difficult that it seems.  But finally...there is hope on the horizon.

This is one of the most effective personal budgeting programs I've come across to help you track your money coming in and going out.  And best of all its FREE!  I will admit though, I was extremely hesitant at first about signing on because you have to sign-up by logging into your banking institution(s). But after searching all over the web and researching about their security measures I finally felt comfortable enough to try it and I'm not regretting it one bit.

Brian Courtney Wilson: "All I Need"

Houston has a new shinning star that's quickly on the rise.  Officially on "Team Knowles" he's signed to  Mathew Knowles’ Spirit Rising/Music World Entertainment.  Blessed with one of those voices that just reaches right into your soul, his album has debuted at #2 on the Billboard Current Gospel Albums Chart.  I happened to have bought this CD back in September as a birthday gift for the Mr.  He absolutely loved it and so did I.  Brian's Singles "Already Here" and "All I Need" off of his debut album "Just Love" are right in line with the Fred Hammonds and Hezekiah Walkers of the gospel world.

I was lucky enough to have him come and visit my church two weeks ago and he was phenomenal!  I can't say enough about the album as it one of those that you can play all the way through without skipping a track.  I'm particularly fond of track #8 "Believe," which the Mr. always plays and dedicates to me.  Needless to say its extremely sentimental to me.  As a matter of fact, I know it'll be playing in a lot of weddings come 2010,because the lyrics are so profound and rings true to so many couples out there.

I wish him much success and hope you enjoy the video of "All I Need." This song actually brought me to tears listening to it when I was out driving one day....yes, it's that deep.

All I Need

Brian C. Wilson | MySpace Music Videos>

Janet Opens Up: ABC's In The Spotlight Interview

Calm and tranquil as ever, Janet Jackson sits down with ABC's Robin Roberts and opens up about the passing of her brother and other poignant moments in her life.

The Priceless Qualities of a Grant Writer

The biggest obstacle in owning a business or if you're still in the thinking process of starting one; is figuring out how your going to fund it.  No matter how big or how small your company is, financing is a key component of daily operations.  The big question is how to get it?  Of course everyone is familiar with getting loans and pulling money out of savings or other various venues; but grants are another way of acquiring some funding to build and expand your business.

The problem with grants however, is the process required in just being considered.  The paperwork is intensive, time sensitive and usually has strict restrictions and guidelines that must be followed.  If you're considering going with this approach thorough preparation is needed.  Although it is possible to do yourself, there are professionals who specialize in this area.

To get a better understanding of the process involved and some insider tips, we've reached out to president and C.E.O. of Connecting the Dots, Zipporah Daniels-Browne.  

Moroccan Oil...Holy Grail...or Just more hype?

War is raging in the global multi billion dollar haircare industry and competition has been climbing to new heights because of it.  As more African American women are rocking their natural hair; even more are scrutinizing labels looking at the quality of the ingredients going into the products and into their hair. Manufacturers are now hard pressed to use better ingredients in formulas for even the common (non-salon) brands.

Better ingredients means bigger bucks, but buyers are becoming less afraid of paying a higher price for salon quality products and that has not gone unnoticed.  You can walk into Target and Walmart nowadays and find them sitting right on the shelves.  In the quest for soft, touchable, shiny hair some women will happily pay top dollar.  Especially in the African American market as we naturally have a drier hair type.  With relaxers, coloring, flat ironing, weaves and braiding our hair needs as much moisture as it can get along with supplemental protein reinforcement to strengthen it.

Every few months or so I hear of a new product being the new 'Holy Grail' of hair products.  Lately I've been hearing A LOT about Moroccan Oil.  The hype is that it will immediately make your hair shiny and soft to the touch.  I've read so many rave reviews about all the wondrous works its done for the hair but I've been down that road before.  So I did my research to find out exactly what's in it and how it acts with my hair:

Proceed with Caution: Love Ahead

We all want it...Some are willing to pay hundreds of dollars, fill out surveys, review applicants and try it all again when it doesn't work out as planned.  Artists have painted such appealing pictures and singers have crooned of its sweet goodness; and the wonderful feelings it leaves in us.  Everyone seems to have it however, why does it seem to escape only you?  At the end of it...we all want someone to love.

And that is where the problem begins.  That nearly obsessive, inescapable yearning to possess love convinces us that we need to have it in order to be complete.  That strong compulsion causes some normally intelligent people to make some rather highly, unintelligent decisions.  Social and economic barriers make no difference, no one group is unaffected; we're all slaves to longing for the promised comforts that love is supposed to bring.  But the road to love is just like any road we drive on.  It curves, dips, bends, cracks and occasionally needs repair.  The most important thing however, are the signs alongside of it that help us navigate our way and make sure that we are heading in the right direction to get to our ending destination.

Russian Roulette

After opening up about the events of that now infamous night, Rihanna releases her new video Russian Roulette. The video to me shows a battle that so many women (and some men) are facing out there.

Russian Roulette is the lethal game of testing faith in which a single bullet is loaded into a revolver and the participants take turns pointing it to their heads and pulling the trigger. For those people in abusive relationships, that is exactly what they are doing...playing a highly dangerous game of chance...

The entire vibe is markedly dark and twisted with Rihanna showing confused emotions of being torn and tortured; dodging bullets at every turn. With the end signifying the "death" of her unhealthy relationship to Chris. I applaud her and her team for addressing that poignant moment in her life rather than trying to sweep it under the rug. In doing so they reached thousands of battered women that otherwise may have been on the losing end of that revolver.

Think About What Your Thinking About

Lately I've been re-reading, Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer.  One of my favorite chapters challenges us to "think about, what your thinking about."  As simple as it sounds, it really enlightened me to how much negativity flows through my mind on a daily basis.

Of course,  realistically I expect  my mind to wander from one topic to another...be it work, what's for dinner, what bills are coming, what's next on TV???etc.  But after reading and listening to Joyce's message and really paying attention to what she was trying to convey through her words,  I learned  just how important my thoughts really are.

Walmart Shopper Slaps Child

Roger Stephens while shopping at the Georgia Stone Mountain Walmart Store, apparently became so annoyed over a crying child that he allegedly slapped the 2-year old girl several times in the face.  Sonya Matthews, the child's mother, said Stephens had threatened that if she couldn't quiet her daughter, he would do it for her.

Paige Matthews, the 2-year old victim wasn't injured and received treatment at the location, while 61-year old Stephens on the other hand, is being held at the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond.  For more on the story click here.

Nothing seems to amaze me anymore.  I can't even begin to imagine how I would react to someone smacking my child right in my face.  Yes, there are some kids that you envision yourself disciplining when its obvious their parents lack that apparent skill; but its all just that, your imagination and nothing more.  I can only shake my head at this foolishness and hope that little girl is alright. 

What a damn fool.