J'adore TajaMarie: 30 Day Challenge, Weight Loss, and The New Normal

J'adore TajaMarie: 30 Day Challenge, Weight Loss, and The New Normal: Happy New Years! Okay so I'm only like 3 months late but no need to dwell on the past. So I started on me weight loss journe...

I Suffer From LNS

No but seriously, I'm tired. I am in day 2 of my April 30 day challenge and I will be honest with you I am not off to a good start. I suffer from Late Night Snacking ( LNS) and when I'm up doing laundry or homework my LNS flares up. I don't keep snack food in my home for specific reasons. I know I would eat them if I had them, also I don't want my daughter to think keeping cookies, snack cakes, or ice cream is an every day thing but instead an incentive. The downfall to this is I will make a snack. I'm an avid cooker and baker so I always have a ton of ingredients on hand. I can easily whip up and cake in a mug dessert or a quick oatmeal cookie when I have an attack. I try to trick my body with tea but sometimes it doesn't work. SOOO, on this week’s grocery list I have to make sure I grab Smart Point (SP) friendly snacks so when my LNS hits I am ready with an arsenal of tasty and fulfilling snacks.  I am heading into the 1st week of my challenge and I know I WILL be successful.

30 Day Challenge, Weight Loss, and The New Normal

Happy New Years! Okay so I'm only like 3 months late but no need to dwell on the past. So I started on me weight loss journey 2 years ago and in those 2 years I have lost 60+ pounds. I am so proud of myself, definitely patting myself on the back for not only losing the weight but for keeping it off. I mean I went from a 24-dress size to an 18/20. I'm not saying all of this for praise, or to boost my ego but to tell you that I have hit a HUGE brick wall! I am now at the point where I keep losing and gaining the same 8 pounds and it is safe to say it is getting very annoying.  I owe a huge chunk of my weight loss success to Weight Watchers (WW), but a few months ago they changed their tracking system and I still have not adjusted. Only recently have I been able to find inspiration from fellow Watchers who blog/vlog because I feel they finally have figure it out as well.  So now that I have a better idea of how my day in food should look, I can now focus on the other big factor in weight loss . . . Being Active. I TRY to work out at least 3 days a week but lets be honest, after chasing an enthusiastic 3 year old all day, cooking 3 meals a day and snacks, then finally when I get free time that’s when I clean, do laundry, and make sure I get all my assignments done for school. I try to keep my time managed pretty well I have an amazing planner that helps me keep it all together, but when it comes to me being active I always push it off or consume myself with something else. WELL NO MORE!!! In a few days it will be April and that means the beginning on my 30-day challenge which in return will turn into my new normal. In the month of April I plan on applying the new eating methods I found inspiration in and I promise to workout 3 times a week for at least 45 minutes. I will stick to these new habits and will report back with my results on May 1st.  WISH ME LUCK!!!

New Year: Same Me, New Attitude!

HAPPY NEW YEARS! 2015 is finally upon us which means new resolutions, new weight loss goals, and the over use of the phrase “New Year, New Me.  I have nothing against these things, but I will be approaching this year a bit different. 2014 was a year filled with more lows than highs for me which resulted in a very emotionally drained Taja to say the least, but in this New Year and the years to come I plan to attack them with a New Attitude. The year of me is here, no more feeling guilty for wanting to live a little more, getting out, and doing things jut for me. I often feel that the time spent doing something for me is time away from the growth and development of my daughter.  I know I’m not the only mother out there that feels this way.  But what I realize is a happy and fulfilled me is the best me for everyone.  In the past I would say “I’m all about making good memories with good people”, but that was as far as I would get, I had no action plan. How can I make memories if I don’t get out there? In 2015 I will be taking myself on dates and no not because I’m lonely or alone, but to experience new things and to find out what my interest are again. Since becoming a mommy I have been wrapped up in only that, I have lost myself in a way and I’m ready to find my fire again.

In addition to the new attitude I plan to grow spiritually as well. I like to think of myself as a good Christian woman but there is always room for improvement. I plan on reading the Bible from beginning to end in this year in hopes to understand the Word on a different level.  Also I plan on improving my health, I don’t have any health issues and I want to keep it that way. I lost 30+ pounds in 2014 and I plan to lose more this year. I will have a post on my weight loss journey in the near future.
2014 taught me a lot and I know that everything that happened wasn't in vain, but I was so happy to see it go. 2015 YOU BELONG TO ME!
xoxo
J,adore TajaMarie

Checking In!

Hey Dolls,

I know it’s been awhile since I've posted anything but school had me crazy busy, my beautiful brown baby doll turned 2, and then there was Christmas.  So as you can see I was moving in fast-forward for a few months. I feel horrible because I made a promise on Instagram to have two posts up by Christmas and of course that was an EPIC FAIL!!!! But let’s not dwell in the past; I have gone through some changes in the past few months so post on those changes will be coming to a screen near you. 

Well Lovelies, remember to always love the natural you and stay true to who you are.

XOXO,

J’adore Taja Marie

Protective Styles and Me

Hey Dolls,

  So I wanted to talk a little about natural hair, in particular protective styling (PS). I guess you can say that I'm a bit addicted to protective styles. But before I get in too deep, let me give you guys a brief history on my natural hair. I wore sew ins for most of my Sophomore year of college and on February 16,2008 I was officially natural. On January 13th, 2013 ( 2 months after giving birth to my beautiful baby girl), I Big Chopped. Having a newborn and an all day wash day wasn't working for me anymore. I enjoyed my short hair and the "lower" maintenance of it, but by the summer of 2013 I was ready for a change.  Honestly, I didn't want to deal with putting all this time and effort into a twist out just for humidity to completely disrespect my hair and all my hard work. On top of being a full time mom to a very busy, at the time almost one year old,  I soon discovered trying to carve out time to do my hair was becoming a bit of a challenge. July of 2013 is when I did my first installment of Chunky Marley Twist, and I've been hooked since. My PS allow me to worry less about my hair without neglecting it. I have a few Do's and Don'ts when it comes to prep and maintenance of MY protective styles. I moisturize my hair twice a week with S Curl No Drip Leave in moisturizer ( I saw you chuckle), and organic coconut oil. Also between each installment I allow my hair to breath for a few days. Prior to my install I make sure that my hair is clean and moisturize thoroughly. I shampoo, followed by a moisture balance shampoo,deep condition, then add my leave in and oil.  Now for my Don'ts. I do not shampoo my hair while it's in a protective style. I know, this may have a few people gasping for air but I've done it in the past and it doesn't work for me. Last, I do not keep my styles in past 8 weeks.
I can definitely see a difference in my hair, I am retaining length and my hair is full and healthy.

Marley Chunky Twist

Las Mogan Wig by Vanessa

Crochet  Braid w/ Kanekalon

Medium Twist w/ natural hair

Yarn Twist

Curls Night Out!

Hey Dolls,

So I thought for my first post I would talk about an event that I recently attended. I had the great pleasure of enjoying other Kinky, Coily, Curly brothers and sisters at  "Curls,Cocktails, and Conversation. This was the 1st event that the natural group CurlyCle (@curlycle) put together, and let me say it was AMAZING! I got to enjoy great food prepared by the phenomenal Chef Eric Wells, delicious drinks, and stimulating conversation all in the intimate setting of Ligali's Bistro located in Tremont. I had the pleasure of meeting  hair guru Hey Curlie (@hey_curlie), entrepreneur Carmella Marie (@carmellamarie), and artist such as Maria Lynn (@naturalroots) and Jee (@jee_naildit). Then when I thought the event couldn't get any better I received a FABULOUS Glam goody bag, filled with full and sample size products. I have to give a major thank you to the 3 beauties that put this all together Nicole L. (@nicolelynamor), Brittany S. (@afrofrenchchick), and Tosha S. (@toshastudmire). You ladies saw a void in our city and decided to fill it, and for that I thank you.

Well lovelies, remember to always love the natural you, and stay true to who you are.

XOXO,

J'adore TajaMarie

FOUNDERS: L-R Tosha, Nicole, and Brittany

Curlies!

TL- Maria Lynn, TR Me and Nicole,
BL Carmella Marie, BR Tosha and Brittany

Liagli's Bistro Chef Eric Wells

Lagali's Bistro

L- Hey Curlie, R- Glam Goody Bag
(pics courtesy of @Hey_curlie)