Is GAY the new BLACK?

I am telling you guys, sometimes I ponder this for real!

This is a topic that so many of us shy away from, hide behind our "respective religious sects" or just plain and simple have no sympathy for based on our beliefs. For a Rasta woman, it is considered taboo to discuss it however my main question is this. Irregardless of our personal beliefs, when did lifestyle trump humanity? When did it become okay to ignore the struggles of humans because we don't agree with their decisions? That to me is a dangerous thermometer reading of the temperature of us as a people! A reading I refuse to be a part of.

If we turned on the TV right now and saw a gang of black people being hosed, hung and/or savagely beaten, how would we react? Look at the outrage over the Troy Davis execution...but hearing or seeing someone gay, transgendered, confused, lost, different, non religious, Indian...(insert minority grouping here) being stripped of their rights, looked at as 2nd rate citizens and in worst cases brutalized for being who they are doesn't ignite even a second glance?? Really? Wowsers!

Really, think about it. Black people were beaten, tortured and killed just for being black. Black people were prevented from regular civil opportunities in society just for being black. We were hated, judged, spit on, kicked and just all around treated like dogs, just for being black. Now, think about it from the gay prospective. Similar huh? I think so!

Now, let me say this, I am not saying put on a rainbow cape and defend all injustices, but open your mind to the possibility that your thinking, your actions, your disregard for others may be rooted in something other than Jesus, Allah, Budah, JAH or any other "god" you serve. Hmmm *food for thought*

There are some that will say.."Jahlicia, what have YOU done while you are up here preaching to us about doing stuff", and to this I chuckle and say "I ain't do a mf thang..but write this blog!" Lol! But here me out. I wrote the blog, hopefully shed some insight on this so now the next time injustice is right in front of your face you will remember this blog and make a different decision! Mission Accomplished! :)


Think about it!

Love,
Jahlicia <3

My Exercise/Eating Journey Ep. 1: The Beginning

Hey guys,

I know, I know! Long overdue but like I said in the last food posting, I have to do it in my own time. Well, IT'S MY TIME! I got on the scale and almost keeled over at the numbers! Needless to say, my diet and exercise plan began that very next day!

So, to keep myself accountable and to go along with my prior posting "Focusing on Plan A" here is my first installment of my weekly exercise and eating post. No lying! No deleting! No sugar coating! This is what I did or didn't do and what I ate or shouldn't have eaten.

Now, I started on Wednesday Sept. 21st therefore it is more like a semi-weekly but look forward to a full week from here on out!
As far as diet is concerned, I am sticking primarily to the Atkins way of no more than 20g of carbs daily while also incorporating some fruit in as well. Now, I know that fruits are not allowed on the Atkins Diet but on 'My Diet", they are. Also, I will exercise Monday thru Friday, with my rest days being Saturday and Sunday. I also reserve the rights to work out on those days in the event I miss a workout during the week.

So now that explained that, lets get this show on the road! Ha!

Wednesday Sept. 21st

2 1 cup helpings of chicken Voila (lunch/dinner)

peach mango tea (crystal light)

32 oz. of water

1 apple 

cup of coffee ice cream :(

Workout: 20 min. walk around subdivision

Thursday Sept. 22nd

an omelet w/ turkey and cheese

peach mango tea / water

1 yogurt

chicken salad

cereal :(

workout: 30 min. band exercises / 40 sitt ups

Friday Sept. 23rd

yogurt / chicken nuggets w/ ketchup & sour cream

cereal :( peach mango tea / water

workout: 30 min. walk around the park track / 40 sittups

Saturday Sept. 24th

yogurt / apple / peach mango tea / water

chicken nuggets w/ ketchup & bbq sauce

fried chicken wings w/ ranch

2 baked potatoes w/ sour cream & butter :(

Sunday Sept. 25th

yogurt / peach mango tea / water

chicken salad w/ lettuce & tomato

Okay, so right off the bat I can tell why writing out your food can be helpful. I can tell just by seeing this that:

1. I do not eat enough.

2. I need to stop skipping breakfast.

3. I usually eat my first meal way into the afternoon.

So, while I am very proud of my eating habits because there is soo much junk food in the house that I DIDN'T eat and could have, I still need to taper off the cereal at night. I also am working on willpower cause when I tell y'all that between the hours of 12a and 4a the food calls me. By Name! This is usually when I do my most damage eating wise so just pray for me. I mean, really PRAY!

This week I am gonna strive to eat something every 3 hrs and also to eat breakfast! I sleep late anyway and on top of that I usually get up, hit the showers and leave but I will make it my business to eat before I leave, even if it is just a yogurt.

Okay, so I have officially begun outing myself. Feel free to leave me any and all tips you have for eating and exercising. Anything and everything will be helpful! I def need your prayers and encouragement cause hunny, it is not easy! I HAVE to do it though so I figured I would share my journey :)

So, until next week guys :)

Love,

Jahlicia <3

The Crown: Measured

Hey guys,

I have been meaning to do another length check to see if my locs had grown since the last time I did it and boy did they! I first measured my locs, as requested by 1 of my subbies, on May 21st, 2011 and in just over 4 months (today being Sept. 24th, 2011) I have seen between a 1-1/2" increase. Yay!?!

If interested, here is my first length check

May measurements

Top lengths = 5"

Middle/Side lengths = 5.5"

Back/Bottom rows = 6.0 "

Sept. measurements

Top lengths = 5.75"

Middle/Side lengths = 6.5"

Back/Bottom rows = 7.0"

I was wayyyy more excited about the hair growth until I googled that hair grows about 0.5" a month! Um, excuse me but someone owes me about another inch and a half, right? O.O

Anywho, while I side eye my scalp, I will wear a smile that there was growth at all and who knows, maybe I will find those extra inches while my hair is wet. Please believe I will be checking so if you don't see a followup to this blog....I am STILL side eye ing my scalp! Ha!

Love,

Jahlicia <3

Focusing on Plan A

I don't quite know when, but I fell off my own bandwagon! Who does that? How does that happen? Chile, who knows but I did!

While watching Me-Anie's vid "I don't do a plan B" I realized that I have allowed negative thoughts and feelings to somewhat deter me from my goal and that is a HUGE #side eye to myself! Gurl, get yourself in check is all that resounded within my spirit! So, I started getting my butt in gear with the quickness.

As a person who is known as a quitter and a runner, any kind of adversity is reason to bolt but in life, I will never accomplish anything by quitting when the going gets tough, so for once and for all in my life, I am planting my feet firmly in the ground and sticking to my guns! Go Jahlicia!

I also made a video for my YouTube channel on this topic so I will add that in at some point, along with Me-Anie's aka Barbaydian261, video. Hopefully it ignites a spark in you as well.

 Me-Anie's "I don't do a Plan B"

My Video "Done with the Plan B"

So, what have I done so far, you ask. Well, for one I got my lazy ass up and exercised for the first in quite a while. What did I learn? The first days of working out is a fucking killer!! My advice to any overweight peeps out there is never start and stop exercising like me because you will never get to the burn that everyone talks about and start enjoying it because every time you will feel like your first time and QUIT!

Also, I mapped out my exercise program, eating and water intake as well as my immediate and long term goals to ensure I stay on track on exactly what I need to be doing. I had never been this clear before, half assing writing it down, feeling like it was in my head so I was good. Needless to say it stayed in my head and the weight stayed on my ass...stomach..arms! You get the point! WRITE IT DOWN, MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!

So, to summarize, I finally got my shit together and I plan on taking you guys along for the ride! Next time I will tell you what I did for my professional life, YouTube Channel and romantic life! You can watch me achieve my goals right before your eyes! Seeing is believing so I would love to see your dreams unfold along with me.

Dream Big My Loves, Dream Big!

Love,
Jahlicia

Almost Barbaydian + 1

Hey guys,

So yesterday i posted my latest Loc Tut called The Almost Barbaydian as an ode to Me-Anie's latest style! i made a few changes as my hair is no way as long as hers but to quote ole boy from Project Runway I "made it work" Ha!

Here is my loc tut for those who haven't seen it yet!

Now, I am a person that canNOT take pins, styling or anything that changes the way my locs hang for a period of maybe longer than 2 hrs. Like seriously, I am notorious with my friends and family to leave pins everywhere cause I gots to get em out! Okay!

Anywho, today I decided to rock the style again so i re styled it but instead of flat twists on the sides, I did a basket weave on both sides to meet the basket weave going down the back! It came out great and much easier to take on my head (I am actually still wearing it 3 hrs later) GO ME :)

Being a Loc Exhibitionist, I must show you guys so...Enjoy!

Yayy! Clap Track!

Love,
Jahlicia <3

ACV Rinse

Hey guys,

In the past month or so I have seen most of my fav loc'd Yters doing an acv (apple cider vinegar) rinse to get rid of buildup so, I decided to do it also. I usually do not have buildup however I have noticed that right after I dye my locs I tend to have some so, being that I dyed my locs about 2 weeks ago, now is a perfect time to do it!

Also, I have turned into a loc exhibitionist so I must share with you the process! Yayy! Clap Track! Lets begin!

Here are the ingredients!

The mixture I used

What I did first, after I mixed up the ingredients, is rub some baking soda down my locs (same as bronzegoddess01) just for a little more fizz.

mixture before

Then I submerged my locs into the mixture, since I did it in a tub (same as MsIslandSpice) I simply lay my head into the mixture and let it sit for about 7-10 minutes.

side view

ooh, gurl! I fixed my brow as soon as I seen't this pic O.O

thumbs up if you smell vinegar! Ha!

Gurl, #weak at that brow! #side eye also..anywho, lets carry on!

After the time passed, I squeezed all the mixture out of my locs and towel dried before washing. Why? I walked around my house for about 10 mins and didn't care for sopping wet vinegar type juice leaking all over my body! Okay!

Because I <3 y'all and I know y'all are nosey just like me, here is what the water looked like after. Sidebar, NO I didn't bleed into the water, its my rinse. O.O

Wow! This was IN my locs

I guess it is not THAT bad! Red mostly

I took some pics of my locs before co-washing. Let me know if you see any more buildup.

pre co-wash

see me ?

looks pretty much buildup free

Now, its time for a quick co-wash with my Trader Joe's Tee Tree Conditioner, as well as thorough rinsing cause y'all KNOW I gots to get that smell out of my babies :)

Lastly I am deep conditioning over night with Hello hydration, Cantu Shea butter, olive oil and a conditioning cap! Yes, I know I look super sexy and y'all sweating me but "I gots a man....O.O" hahahaha!

conditioner rubbed in

 

#werq

Here is me on my Conditioner Cap Steez! 

Haha! Ray say it looks like the ole school popcorn thang you used to put over the stove! I agree! Lol!

So, I am pretty much going to bed like this, so if I don't get any tonight its the damn popcorn cap that's to blame! lmaoooo!




Any questions, concerns feel free to hit me up. Thanks for checking out my post and as usual, hugz!



Love,
Jahlicia <3

We are Talking Locs this week :)

Hey guys,




Just a posting with my new vid this week. Shoutout to the stocking cap making a clean appearance! Ha!

told ya!

Love,

Jahlicia <3

Weekly Spotlight: Ms Island Spice

 Hey guys,

This weeks weekly spotlight is from none other than Kori, aka Ms Island Spice! When I tell y'all I love this gurl! I know, I always say I love the person, and I do, and Kori is no exception. I have been watching her vids since before I even considered starting my channel, and loving every minute of it! I have watched her locs grow and her personality just come bubbling out of her and let me tell y'all, I LOVE IT!! 

So, without further babbling, meet Ms. Island Spice!

1. What made you decide to start a YouTube channel? Were you prepared for your popularity?

   
I was always lurking on YouTube and there were some videos where I felt like just typing a comment wasn't enough and I wanted to start making my own video responses. I was also curious to see if someone would subscribe to me. I wanted to know what it felt like! 
 
I don’t think I’m THAT popular but I was pretty excited when I had 24 subscribers I was like WOAH TWENTY FOUR PEOPLE WANT TO SEE MORE FROM ME?! So now that I’m over 1000 subscribers I am still a bit surprised!

2. What was it like growing up in Barbados? Why did you leave?

 

HOT! next question...  
syke lol I'm playing. It was nice! To most people it might seem like a dream but I was born there so it's nothing special. I didn't go to the beach every day or anything like that, I think I went once every few months, lol! It's very small, quaint and every one looks familiar because you probably saw them on the bus last week! There is one main mall and one main cinema that everyone goes to. Its very laid back and basic but it does the job.  People are very friendly there. For example, if you stop by my grandmother's house and she just cooked, she will give you a full plate of food, friend or family or friend of a friend or somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody!... even if it means she gave you her plate. If your stomach rumbles at 9pm, she will go and whip up something in the kitchen. And its not just my grandmother, most of the people there are like that, just very open and giving. There is an ad for Malibu Rum and they are poking fun at Caribbean people saying we are sooo laid back and its true. (the one when they are handing out ticket stubs for the melons lol) The age I am at now, I see Barbados as a place for either holiday or retirement. I'm too wild for island life now.
 
Leaving Barbados was not my choice. My father was offered a job in Austria (random I know!) so my parents just sat us down and said hey kids we are moving to Austria! So we moved there summer 2000. Initially it was supposed to be 1 year and then move back to Barbados but 1 year later my parents sat us down again and told us we were staying 1 more year. Another year after that they sat us down AGAIN and said we were moving to USA. I was sooooooo thrilled about that cause I was so obsessed with America.(too much TV hahaha) So that’s pretty much it, my father’s job is what made us move. 

3. Why did you move to the UK? What do you love most and least about living there?

 

Again, related to my dad’s job. They had this sponsorship program where they would pay 75% of my tuition if I went to college outside of the states. I looked at places in Canada & UK. Canada was tough because for management programs I needed to do calculus (Hellll NO) so UK was the one!
I LOVE city life. I love being able to walk every where. Post office, supermarket, the mall, night clubs, restaurant, cinema…EVERYTHING is walking distance and I love it. (Random) but I like the fact that VAT (tax in the US) is included in prices. It really bugs me in the states how they add it on at the cashier so then it’s a big surprise what your bill is going to be lol Over here 1 + 1 = 2 (Beyonce :D) I kinda like the weather lol I hate being hot and sticky (well not always :p) and over here is always “cool”. The summer isn’t too hot and the winter isn’t too bad either. I didn’t even wear a scarf or a hat last winter!

What I don’t like about the UK is the lack of sunshine. I like the temperatures but I just wish the sun would shine a bit more. Grey skies are depressing. I also don’t like the benefits system they have here. Too many people abuse it. Criminals and single mums get priority on the housing lists. So I either have to bust a cap in someone’s ass or bust a nut to get a house. Unemployment benefits are heavily abused as well. So it’s a good system but it’s flawed because so many people are getting away with it. One guy owes the government about £70,000 in false claims he made. There are loads and loads of cases popping up everyday of people wrongly claiming money. I don’t want to get all political but that really bugs me because there are people out there who really do need the benefits system like a single mum who works 2 jobs or someone who was injured so is finding it hard to get a job. But I feel like the abusers outweigh the people who really need it.

4. What are the 3 loc products you cannot live without?

Jojoba oil
Organic Root Stimulator
Witch Hazel

5. What is your go to loc style when its time to go out?

Something curly & side swept

6. You have great style, what 3 fashion items are a must have in your opinion?

Why thank you very much, J!
1.Only give a taste, leave something to the imagination. Don’t leave home with tits out, stomach out and legs out…choose ONE. With everything hanging out, you will get attention, yes, but the guy is only going to want 1 thing and its not your heart!
2. Learn what suits your figure. It might be the cutest dress on someone else but don’t force it if it's not you. If you dress for your shape/size you can look like a million dollars!
3. Invest in a full length mirror and check yourself before you leave. Please ladies!


7. Damn gurl, I love your heels! How long did it take you to learn how to strut in them? Tips for rocking heels...?

Practice makes perfect. My first pair of heels were some kitten heels when I was around 17 and when my boyfriend (at the time) picked me up, he was like “why you walking funny?” lol
Next pair after that was 3 inches. Now I’ve graduated to 4 & 5 inch heels and I just walk around a lot in them. In the store to test them out and then a few days after I have them, I walk up and down in them in the house. Clean your house in heels! Practice, Practice, Practice!

8. What is your dream job, if you could do anything in the world?

Hmm this is a tough one…I really don’t know. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so something to do with planning and organizing. I would like to take a stab at wedding planning but I don’t know if it’s a dream job since I’ve never tried it. I just know I like to see results and I want to work for me!
I do a little hair braiding on the side and I like that but I have never really thought about it as a dream job cause my hands get tired or I get tired from standing up lol
Its a bit up in the air.

9.  What do you love the most and least about YouTube?

I love the feedback. If I have a question, I just post a video and by the next day Ive got loads of comments from all these people from different walks of life. I like that I can type anything into YouTube and 99.9% of the time I will find what I’m looking for. I feel like YouTube is my second family and Ive made loads of friends.  
I dislike the haters. Someone called me a crusty monkey once! Was that really necessary? Lol At the time I was a bit annoyed by it but now if I get a negative comment I just delete it and forget it. What I hate is that these haters that cause drama, when you go to their page, no videos, no pictures…so they are just causing trouble for no reason and they WANT a reaction, that’s what makes them happy. So don’t give into them, just remove the negativity!

     10. Who are your top 6 favorite You Tubers?

In no particular order –
Jahlicia of course!! (the first video I watched from you I clicked subscribe before the video was over! You are hilarious and a breath of fresh air and when you go quiet and then bust out 4 videos I'm like YAYYYY. Its like u teasing me girl…but I love it haha)

Whoissugar (But sug!!... lol She is crazy funny.  When she does her outfit of the day with the shoes OOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW. Love her!)

BronzeGoddess01 (Mostly for hair tutorials and her diva on a dime hauls AND she makes me laugh as well)

JRenneaC (mostly for hair tutorials cause she comes up with some really creative styles with very few accessories and we got de island gyal ting. WAGWAN. She just seems like a really pleasant person that I would definitely hang out with if we lived close to each other)

Khyan1 (nothing to do with locs but he cracks me up! Typical British humor)

…can't think of a 6^th one. The others are all pretty equal! But I watch these 5 the most.

11. What are 2 things that your YT fam doesn't know about you?

Brace yourself…I am VERY shy in really life. My first day at university I sat away from everyone on my own. I ate on my own. I did everything on my own until we were assigned group work lol I think I have social anxiety or something. If I go to a party with someone I know but I don’t know anyone else, and they leave me…panic attack! No lie, tears and everything! (the tears thing only happened once but I do panic usually and text my friend!) I haven’t been officially diagnosed or anything but I am just really really shy. Help me!

2^nd thing. I cried for a whole week when I first moved to the UK. I wasn’t sad…I was just scared!. I thought I had just made the biggest mistake of my life! No family, no friends…nothing. There was also no Internet for the first 3 weeks I lived here so it was pretty horrendous trying to settle in. I became a professional at playing solitaire though!

12. What is your most memorable online moment?

2 guys 1 horse…scarred for life!

Hahahhaa!! See what I mean? Love Her! Thanks so much for the dope shoutout, by the way (loves it) :).  Thanks so much for doing this interview for us and being so open and honest! I learned alot!

Please check out her channel : http://www.youtube.com/user/MsIslandSpice

Also, check out her Fotki : http://public.fotki.com/IslandHunni

Thanks to you for reading and look out for our next spotlight, it may be YOU or someone you KNOW! If you are interested in being spotlighted, email me at lovejahlicia@gmail.com. 

Love,

Jahlicia <3

"I went natural because..." Vol. 4

Nat0526 says:

lotsalocs87 says:

@yeslioness1 wrote:

I went natural in the 11th grade because once I became aware of my African Cultural heritage (through books like the Autobiography of Malcolm X) and realized that my own hair in it's natural state was better than any other hair that I could wear. I really appreciated it much more and I wanted to make a statement that to let people know how proud I was to be Black and how beautiful my God-Given African hair is!

@tonidaley wrote:

I went natural by accident....I got caught up in the 90's! Brandy, Patra, Janet Jackson in poetic justice, Brownstone. They inspired the look that I rocked for 2 full years....braids! Why I stayed natural though....was what happened after I got tired of the braids. I took them out and fell in love with my hair :)

@kelzmania wrote:

 
I went natural because it was time for a change and a new look ... I was inspired by the beautiful natural women on YouTube !!! So I did the big chop!! :) plus my processed hair was damaged !!

Sandi wrote:

I went natural for a couple of reasons. I had spent my entire life hating my hair for not being "beautiful". The last time I remembered loving my hair, I was 7 and had an "Angela Davis" style Afro. My parents then began to process my hair and it was ALWAYS breaking off, thinning, and I was miserable. The second reason was an off shoot from the first - I was tired of chasing after someone else's idea of beauty. So I went back to the time when I last loved my hair - all natural. I love my locs - I love natural hair. My joy, strength, energies and my crowning glory locs truly make me smile inside and out.

@NikkiMo75 wrote:

I went natural because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired with the condition of my over processed, damaged, broken off hair.  Although I was tired with the way my hair looked, I was still scared to cut the relaxer out.  Since I was not confident in how I would look with my hair in its natural state, it took me 2 years to actually do the “Big Chop”.

I had been wearing my hair in braids for about a year until I decided what I wanted to do next.  In September 2001 I took down a set of braids. My hair was so damaged I cried...hard.  Although I was upset, I could not bring myself to relax nor braid my hair again.  My hair was begging for a serious break and so was my self esteem.  I got myself together and headed to the barber shop and cut my hair....Just like that. When the barber was finished I could not believe my eyes.  Although this was not the first time that I have cut my hair off, it was the first time that I didn’t relax, texturize or add some crazy color to my hair.  It was just me...chemically free me as beautiful as I can be.  

Deanna wrote:

I went natural because its what my spirit lead me to do. Even as a young child never liked getting my hair pressed I just never felt like me. Since I took the jump to being natural, several years before locing, Ive just felt more like well Deanna the goddess that I am!

Robin wrote:

I went natural because I was encouraged by my friend/stylist of 17 yrs, who did my hair before locking, before going natural. He was one of the best! He suggested that I go natural in 2005. I love him for this and appreciate the guidance that he is giving me from heaven. I love & miss you Robert!!!

@SoulJor wrote:

 I went natural because it's what I always wanted. I never enjoyed killing my hair with relaxers, but as a child my mother and her European view of beauty, over-ruled my desires. She told me as long as I was living under her roof, my hair would be "tamed". My last relaxer was in my senior year of high school. I cut all my relaxed ends off while listening to to tupac (lol) and rocked the fro for a couple of years in college. Soon after I loc'd up, and have been for the past 3 years. basically I wanted to be natural, because it is who I am, it is beautiful and its healthy. all positive. I love my natural hair, loose and loc'd and I'll NEVER relax it again!

  

Pheonix Von Phire wrote:

I went natural because it was cheap. I was in college, away from my mom and sisters (who always did my relaxers for me..I was never good at giving them to myself) and one day I was like fuck it. I don't have money for a new box of relaxer, its been 3 months already and I'm growing this shit out! Nothing deep or spiritual behind my decision. I did not realize at the time I would be embarking on one of the greatest journeys of self discovery that I would ever travel!

As usual, thanks to all that participated! If you do not see your entry in this installment, look forward to it next Thursday! 

Love,

Jahlicia <3