Taking a Break....

Hey y'all! I know a lot of you haven't seen me around the blogosphere in quite some time. Don't worry, in the words of Pink, I'm not dead, but I have been super busy with work and in my personal life. When I'm stressed and disillusioned, I usually like to spend time with my dolls, so I've been focusing on my collection a lot.

This summer, I'm going to take an official break from blogging. If you want to see what I'll be up to with my dolls, check out my Flickr album!

I plan to pick back up with my blog sometime in the Fall.

H.A.G.S (have a great summer)!!!

Motivational Monday

Best Albums EVER! (IMHO)

Just to warn readers, this list may seem a little wierd for a 26 year old African American female, but I can't help myself! Throw in a lot of alternative rock from the late 1990s and early 2000s (think Matchbox 20, Oasis, The Verve, Smashing Pumpkins, and Red Hot Chili Peppers), add in some emo and pop punk, and then lightly sprinkle in some Pop and Dance, and you pretty much have my entire iTunes library. I'm not counting compilation albums and greatest hits in this list, because that would be cheating.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill

The Neo Soul genre that was so big in the early 2000s was basically R&B for the new generation. But, like a lot of musical fads, this one didn't stay strong for long. Sure, Macy Grey, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Mary J. Blige are still pretty big, but the majority of Neo Soul artists have pretty much fizzled out. Of all of the Neo Soul albums, though, this one has stood the test of time. This album sounds as good now as when it was released way back in '98. I also have to say that this is the only album that I actually like every song on. It's like when your parents say, "Back in the day you didn't need to skip tracks because every song was good." I guess that's what I'll be saying about this album when I'm 40.

Everything In Transit and The Glass Passenger by Jack's Mannequin

I had never heard of Jack's Mannequin until I was in college, and one of my roommates was playing "Dark Blue". From that moment on I was hooked. Apparently, I'm still in teenage/adolescence mental mode, so the songs on these albums still speak to me. People and Things is a little too adult for my liking.

Mad Season and More Than You Think You Are by Matchbox Twenty

The first song I ever heard from Matchbox Twenty was "Bent." Since then I have been a pretty devoted fan of their music. To me, these two albums sum up what Matchbox Twenty are all about. The new songs from Exile on Mainstream were pretty good too, but based off of the few songs I've heard on North, this latest album hasn't caught me fancy.

Don't Play With Matches by Tabitha's Secret

As much as I dislike Yourself or Someone Like You, I love Don't Play With Matches. The two additional versions of "3 A.M." and "Forever December" are definitely the high points. If you're looking for some good acoustic 90s soft rock, I definitely recommend this album.

Christina Aguilera by Christina Aguilera

I much prefer the sweet innocent Christina Aguilera over the sexed-up-dominatrix version that we have to contend with now, but that's probably just me. In my humble opinion her first album was the best. Stripped was ok, with songs like "Beautiful" and "A Voice Within," but I didn't like the whole bad-girl thing that was forced down everyone's throats. Besides, nothing can top "Genie in A Bottle" and "Come On Over Baby." Aah, those were the days!

By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I first heard of Red Hot Chili Peppers when I was in high school, but it wasn't until I was in college that I could really explore all that the Chili Peppers had to offer. Stadium Arcadium and Californication are both good, but the line up on By the Way takes all.

Poison Kiss by The Last Goodnight

Probably not the most well known band out there, The Last Goodnight had a good sound, and their first, and only, album is certainly up there with my top picks. Unfortunately, they haven't released anything since.

Boys Like Girls by Boys Like Girls

If you're in the mood for some good Punk/Pop/Emo music, this is your go to band. Whenever I listen to this album, I get all nostalgic for how teen years should be (hanging out with super cute bf in a filed of wild flowers, laughing with your friends beside a scenic lake with a wooden pier), not how they actually are, lol! Like anyone with any ambition for the rest of their life, I hated high school, but this album does a good job of sugar coating those adolescent years in a rebellious emo kind of way.

Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Prism is looking pretty good with "Roar," but Katy's second album is her best. Not to mention it's the first one I heard from her!

Simply Deep by Kelly Rowland

Compared to her hoochy, hip hop sound and image, Simply Deep would probably not be considered Kelly's best album by most people, but like I said before, I prefer the good girl image.

Sunsets and Car Crashes by The Spill Canvas

If you need some good break up music, or just want to hear some music that personifies all the emo heartache society has to offer, then Sunsets and Car Crashes is for you. The same college roommate who introduced me to Jack's Mannequin, also got me started with The Spill Canvas.

Motivational Monday

Review: Giovanni Invigorating Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo and Conditioner

It's been quite a bit since I've done a review, but that's not because I haven't tried any products worth reviewing, it only because I haven't had the time to write up any!

Today I will be reviewing Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo and Conditioner. This review is based off of using the sample sizes.

It is always a struggle for me to find decent shampoo. When I was young, I developed a scalp fungus (of all things!), and even though the scalp fungus was healed, I have been battling with severe dry scalp since then. And when I say sever, I mean really, really bad dry scalp!

I've tried everything, including Head and Shoulders, but nothing really helped, until now. My mom is into natural things now, so she suggested I try this Giovanni shampoo with teat tree, since tea tree oil is good for cleansing your skin and removing impurities. I had been steadily using Head and Shoulders, which obviously wasn't working, so what could I lose. This product changed my life!

The Shampoo

Description from website:

• Invigorating ingredients deliver unmatched clarity and rejuvenation for hair and scalp
• Increases scalp circulation for a refreshed, renewed feel
• Strengthens hair with a three-organic-oil-blend to stimulate, condition and clarify
• Alleviates dry, flaking scalp with organic tea tree botanicals
• Lauryl and laureth sulfate free

First, I love that the shampoo is clear. It doesn't really lather up a lot and it does smell a little like menthol, but after washing it out,the smell doesn't linger on your hair. As for the flakes and dry scalp, after using this shampoo along with the conditioner twice (I usually wash my hair every other week). I noticed that there were significant less flakes in my hair the week in between washings. As an added benefit, my scalp did feel very clean and clear, and my hair was shiny and hydrated, even without using a moisturizer or oil sheen!

The Conditioner

Description from website:

• Increases scalp circulation for a refreshed, renewed feel
• Strengthens hair with a three-organic-oil-blend to stimulate, condition and calm
• Alleviates dry, flaking scalp with organic tea tree botanicals
• Encourages natural shine and resilience

The conditioner is very slippery, but rich, so you get pretty good hair coverage. As with the shampoo, there is a menthol smell, but it washes off with the conditioner. My hair is pretty thick, so it's a pain to comb anyway, wet or dry, but this conditioner did seem to help to make my hair easier to manage after washing.

Conclusion

I would definitely recommend using both of these products. I used both the shampoo and conditioner samples for about two months, and my hair looks and feels great! Best of all, these products help keep down my dry scalp and flakes a billion times better than even Head and Shoulders!

*Disclaimer: All products have been purchased by me for my own personal use.*