CisterSpeak

We've Moved!

Cisterspeak has moved!  Come visit us at www.cisterspeak.com.  We've got a new look and new things in store for 2010.  Thanks so much for supporting us and come check us out and join the family as we continue to grow!!

Hair Steamer on Sale

If you've been in the market for a hair steamer, great news....Salonsrus has the model pictured above on sale.  Right now its only $119.00 plus FREE shipping!

This is perfect for those of use who suffer from dry hair.  To maximize your deep conditioning, apply your favorite conditioner and sit under the hood without a cap.  This allows the steam to open up your cuticles, helping the conditioner to penetrate deeper.  Afterwards follow with a cold water rinse and ACV  (Apple Cider Vinegar ) to close those cuticles back up and lock in moisture.  I use 3 tables spoons of ACV to 16.9 oz of water.

Steaming your hair has great benefits:

• It opens the outer layer of the hair shaft allowing for moisture to penetrate through.
• Combats dryness and dandruff by helping to keep the scalp moisturized.
• Promotes better circulation to the scalp which leads to hair growth.
• Hair is left softer and stronger.

If you want more info on steaming and don't have a money right now to buy a steamer, you can read about doing a stream treatment at home.

If your interested in purchasing one click here for ordering info.  *Also* I would recommend using distilled water to preserve the life of your steamer.  You can buy a gallon at Walmart for 89 cents.

Cruisin with Bishop Hezekiah Walker & J.Moss

Bishop Hezekiah Walker and J. Moss are the newest additions to the One Love Gospel Cruise2010.  Departing from Miami Florida, the cruise is sailing to Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios, Jamaica beginning April 12, 2010.

Of course I wait till the last minute and now the cheapest cabin is the Superior Inside priced at $1,059.00 but with all the talent that will be on board it's well worth the price.  Along with the two latest additions are Gospel Greats Yolanda Adams,Vickie Winans, Donald Lawrence, the Clark Sisters, Maurette Brown-Clark, Donnie McClurkin, Shirley Caesar and Regina Belle just to name a few. 

Also the cruise is all you can eat and they have a plethora of activities from comedy shows to karaoke to keep you entertained.   Note to self: next year book earlier!

Rent The Runway: Haute Couture To Your Mailbox

Always wanted to try that couture dress but can't figure out how to justify spending a small fortune on for it without the Mr. popping a blood vessel or two? Well gather 'round dear fashionistas because now you can Rent the Runway.

The process works much like nextflix or bag, borrow or steal (where you can rent designer handbags). Women can pay anywhere from $50-$200 to rent the designer duds for four to eight days, then they drop the goods back in the prepaid packaging and send it back from whence it came.  If your in NY they even have same day service; everywhere else is next day. And no need to worry about dry cleaning, they take care of that too.  But don't go getting your Christmas party hopes up, first you have to join the waiting list. 

Once your membership is approved you go and pick a dress based on occasion. For example is it a "Girls Night Out", "Birthday" or "No Big Deal?"  After picking the dress, you reserve your dates and a dress will arrive within a few days of your occasion.  They even have a chat feature that connects you with a professional stylist to help you piece your look together.  RTR works directly with designers and buys the dresses that are currently in season, so that your not wearing last seasons fashions. 

The dresses are insured to help safe guard the process and for those ladies who try to finagle a "five finger discount".  So no more having to lose an entire paycheck or slaving away at that part-time job to save for a dress you'll wear for an evening...now you can rent that runway look for a pittance of the price!

$6500 Homebuyer Tax Credit for Current Homeowners

The extension on the popular $8,000 tax credit now carries an incentive for current homeowners too.  The $8,000 is still available to first time homebuyers but, now there is a reduced credit available to people who have owned their home for at least five years and are looking to purchase a new residence.   Maybe your family has outgrown your current house or your relocating to move closer to loved ones or a new job?

The move is basically there to welcome more high end home investors to the residential market.  During the initial incentive program created by the government, the sale of homes went up but only by a margin of what was expected with the $8,000 tax credit. Thus the introduction of the $6,500 tax credit by the federal government to current home owners now creates a more favorable market for both buyers and sellers.  This gives families more options if they choose to upgrade their household or their financial status changes they can now upgrade their style of living, thus the option of a new home.

Your Business Description and Market: B.O.M. Series

The beginning of your "business" plan is filled with defining your mission statement, target market and growth potential which identifies the company's objectives and the specific demographics you're trying to reach.  Every component is important because they provide the foundation of what your company is about.  Translated inwardly... it gives you a sense purpose and defines what you stand for and what values you respect in yourself and hold others to.

Your mission statement lets you know what you want to accomplish in your life.  Everything you do should somehow center on that.  It's a great resource in helping to overcome merely floating through life and actually having a direction in the decisions that you make.  My personal statement is:

I will endeavor to build a solid foundation based on faith to be the basis of my character and integrity.  The core values for my family and I now and for generations to come, is to live life to the gratification and fulfillment of your spirit doing that which will allow you to have: the ability to give and receive love in abundance, financial security, education, humility and compassion for others.

Your next focal point in drawing up that business plan is determining who your target Market is.  What kind of people would you like to surround yourself with?  If your single, what type of partner would you like to attract?  Store owners are well aware that consumers who continuously come in and just peruse but never buy anything will ultimately stump the expansion of your enterprise.  It takes time, money and energy to keep your operation running and if no one is giving back eventually you'll have to close up shop.  Take a very good look at your inner circle of friends and the relationships that you attract...  If they're not beneficial to you then don't waste your time trying to mold them into your life.  You wouldn't knowingly employ someone you can't trust counting your safe, running your finances or, being responsible for your priceless inventory.   Common sense would discourage you from attracting people to your company that have no real interest in it.  Think of it your as personal filter...folks who don't fit the demographics and won't be beneficial to you shouldn't make it through. 

Often times we're so preoccupied with the financial aspect of running a business that we fail to realize the relative importance of all the intricate details that need to be established long before you even open the doors.  Solidify your foundation and get your values set....decisions you make in life should reflect on the mission your trying to achieve.  Make sure that your target 'market' (the people you want to surround yourself with) are a positive reinforcement that are a benefit rather than detriment, in helping you to achieve the goals you've set.

Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask - Product Review

I recently had the opportunity to try the Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask and here's my take on it.  My hair doesn't care for a lot of products that most people rave about however, this one worked pretty well.  But...while it's a nice conditioner it failed to really 'wow' me and for about $30 a jar it better leave me with hair Halle Berry would envy. 

Tiger Woods: Fall From Grace

I received this picture in a text message a few minutes ago and all I could do was shake my head.  After years of building up his reputation, Tiger can do nothing but watch helplessly as the media gleefully does its best to shred it apart.  Public opinion can be extremely cruel and unforgiving, especially towards those that have the audacity status of being ridiculously rich and famous.

Now Tiger learns the lessons of former Governor Mark Sanford and his Argentinian affair, Bill Clinton and Monica, Kobe and his shenanigans and former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.  It wasn't the guilt and shame of their infidelity that really got to them...it was the embarrassment in how they got caught.  But as Kobe has shown, people forget and life goes on...just as long as you pay the wife more money.

Maybe eventually folks will realize that being married is a privilege not a pastime?  But sadly, somehow I doubt it...

And of course we'd be remiss to point out that if the roles were reversed and there were photoshopped pictures of Elin bruised and battered the feminist outcry would reach to the far recesses of Alaska with droves of women camping out and calling for his immediate imprisonment, regardless of their being infidelity or not.  Double standards gotta love 'em...

TomTom GPS Enlists Snoop

The GPS system has become one of the most popular car trinkets for travelers around the world.  Long gone are the days of road maps, gas station stops (and heaven forbid... those over priced rest stops) to ask strangers if we're heading in the right direction?

With technology being what it is, now things have taken a whole new turn.  No longer will we be subjected to listen to that monotonous female voice droning on in our vehicles.  We now have the option of driving and getting directions from cartoon characters and new to the list...Snoop...Really...this is no joke but I really can't stop laughing at this one...literally.

Now, the question is, is this marketing technique aimed at minorities to boost systems sales purchased by African Americans and Hispanics or is this just a strategic move on Snoop's part to help him reach a new demographic?  I must admit it's a brilliant idea from a marketing stand point, but I do hope this isn't setting a new trend... can you imagine Lil Wayne on a GPS???... " Make a motherfin' left here!"...  Oh the horror!

I was actually expecting Snoop to be telling folk to "make a left my nizzle, you've reached your destination for shizzle." It will definitely sell, but yea...I'm gonna pass on this one.  But if you'd like to have Snoop guiding you to your destination you can go to VoiceSkins and purchase it for $12.95, if you have a TomTom GPS system.

Coconut Oil in the Winter: Beware of Breakage

Coconut oil is my absolute favorite oil to use in my hair (especially vatika oil).  It's very rich in fatty acids which helps to moisturize and nourish the hair and scalp. 

Coconut oil, being a triglyceride of lauric acid (principal fatty acid), has a high affinity for hair proteins and, because of its low molecular weight and straight linear chain, is able to penetrate inside the hair shaft.

(Journal of Cosmetic Science. 54(2):175-92) Source.

The penetration to the cortex helps restore protein loss which is vital in keeping your strands strong enough to withstand daily manipulation and styling abuse.  But I've noticed that when winter hit my hair was starting to break more than usual and I finally realized the coconut oil was the culprit.

Because of its high freezing point it solidifies at about 75 deg.F/24C.  So whenever I was outdoors ( basically walking to and from the car) it would harden.  For the most part my hair is up in a protective bun so I really couldn't tell.  But last week I was wearing my hair down and it just felt hard to the touch.  I decided to blend my coconut oil with equal parts olive oil and avocado oil, which also have hair penetrating capabilities, and a little bit of castor oil.

So far my hair loves this mixture.  The hardness is gone and the other oils help keep the coconut oil from freezing.  Do note: this will weigh down your hair so if I'm planning to wear it down, I will not use the castor oil because of how thick and heavy it is. 

Prosperity and Poverty: Money and the Gospel

First and foremost I will start off by saying I'm Christian... But I fully respect people's personal religious beliefs and don't believe in "forcing" your views and opinions on others.  When I was younger I used to avoid political and religious debates like they were the bubonic plague.  Some of the nastiest and rudest people I've ever met were the very same ones that sat up in the church faithfully every Sunday.  One of my biggest grievances is people who claim to love God and speak of spirituality on Sunday then turn around criticize and judge others Monday through Saturday (let me not even get started on that one).

Lately I've been hearing a lot of disdain for the "prosperity gospel."  To put it simply, the idea is that God will provide material blessings for those he holds in high favor.  So would this mean that people are religious simply because they are looking for a better life?  Doing good only for the sole purpose of having their deeds noticed and their kindness returned.  If it were all that simple then wouldn't everyone who is religious be materially successful?  I've even heard  folks saying "if that were the case then why isn't every religious person rich and every atheist or non believer poor?"  And let's not forget the book "The Secret" which tried to simplify it even further with "the law of attraction."

Then there are those who preach the "poverty gospel."  To them its like prosperity is taboo and you should be looked down on for wanting financial independence.  One popular verse they love to abuse is Mark 10:25

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

  The problem is that this is only one verse.  Jesus was talking to a wealthy man who asked him how he could get into heaven?  When told he would have to sell his possessions he turned and walked off and Jesus said that he couldn't serve God; because he basically put riches before his own life.  Sometimes messages get misconstrued because we're so wrapped up in the individual verses we don't take in the whole scripture and the meaning gets missed entirely.

I believe it's a delicate balance of both principles.  Don't get caught up solely in accumulating material things.  Use what you've been blessed with to also give back to others.  Most faiths around the world teach us to respect others, make better choices in our lives and eliminate negative behaviors and habits.  They encourage you to help those less fortunate and act with honesty, honor and integrity.  At the very least the majority teach you to respect yourself and everything around you...  But one shouldn't be made to feel guilty because they are financially blessed nor be revered because they are poor.

Mark 6:33 New Living Translation says it best:

Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.