Results Of The Ododo Originals Giveaway! + What I Wore

Hey guys! Leslie from Ododo Original's has picked 2 of the 3 winners from the giveaway last week [See names below]! However one of the contestants [Enide] accidentally provided a link to the actual Polyvore homepage instead of her Polyvore creation inspired by Effervescent Evergreen, so we wanted to give her a chance to actually show us her stuff. Enide, if you are reading this, please provide us with your link no later than Friday, June 11th 11:59PM PST so that Leslie can make the decision on the winner for the final piece.

Thank you everyone for the fabulous entries!

The other winners are: [Please send me an email to nikole@themoptopmaven.com with your address]
For Ecruciating:
http://www.polyvore.com/topez_dragonfly/set?id=19160364 by commenter
"/" (Polyvore name = Doku+)

For My Only Sunshine: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=19174845 by
commenter Ms.Magnoila (Polyvore name = ANGELSPARKLE)

I am wearing one of the dresses I scored at the Boogie Den, and at $7 a pound I would have to say that this dress was about $3.  My belt and purse are vintage finds from Estate Sales, and my boots are Jeffrey Campbell.

A few people have asked about my fitness regimen, and it is as follows:
Sunrise Yoga [3x a week]
Hiking [3x a week]

I work out about about six days a week in 60 minute increments. I normally hike on the days I don't do my yoga. I started this new fitness regimen where I use my own body weight instead of using "weights" per say. And there are definitely some noticeable results; muscles in my legs are starting to take form, and my tummy and waistline are shrinking. Of course changing my eating habits have also played a major role [I cut out fast food]as well. I love this regimen because it keeps me out of the gym, and brings me into the sunshine [I bring my mat and do Yoga at Runyon Canyon].

Hair Quick Tip: Eat Your Way To Healthy Hair

There was a period of time in the beginning of my hair journey that I had so much breakage, I thought for sure I would lose all of my hair. What I didn't know was that factors outside of my daily hair regimen could also contribute to breakage and excess shedding. One of the most important factors that people tend to overlook is their diet. When formulating your hair regimen, be sure to take into account your dietary needs. Healthy hair starts from the inside out, and since hair is comprised mostly of protein, breakage can occur if your protein intake is low. It is suggested that you consume between 35-50 grams of protein a day, this protein can come in the form of nuts, soy, lean meats, and low fat dairy just to name a few. It is also suggested that you consume protein with fatty acids, as these play a vital role in maintaining the strength of your tresses. You can find fatty acids in most nuts [especially walnuts], and in oily fish such as tuna, salmon, and trout. Also, recent studies suggest that soy protein helps with hair growth, so sub soy milk in your morning latte, or throw some tofu in your stir fry in lieu of chicken.

A "healthy hair diet" should also include the following vitamins:

Vitamin K: Soybeans, wheat, dairy, lettuce, cabbage

Vitamin E [Helps w/Hair Loss]: Whole Grains, Rice Bran, Avocados

Vitamin A: Broccoli, Squash, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes

Vitamin C: Citrus Fruits

Vitamin B: Nuts, Beans, Green Vegetables

[This is a pic of my hair after using KeraCare Super Reconstructor]

If you have restructured your diet, have an air-tight hair regimen, and you are still experiencing severe breakage, it may be time to break out some serious reinforcements. For that I recommend KeraCare Super Reconstructor: Honestly guys, this stuff is very pricey [$32 for 8oz]. But in my opinion it is worth every cent! I have tried everything from Aphogee to Nexxus Emergencee and it doesn't come close to this product. This is a hard core protein treatment I use when my hair just isn't cooperating [like not being able to maintain moisture, excessive breakage, etc] - I don't have to reach for it often, but when I do, this does the trick!

After using a serious protein treatment like this, I normally follow up with the Xtreme Deep Conditioning Method outlined in this video. The result is shiny, strong, soft manageable hair!

Talent Is God Given. Be Humble. Fame Is Man-Given. Be Grateful. Conceit Is Self-Given. Be Careful - John Wooden

This was a very relaxing weekend! I took a much needed step away from my cell phone, laptop, and finally turned my alarm off for a change. Yesterday my mom and I stumbled into the coolest little area, and decided to snap a few quick pics for the blog. A few quick pics turned into a full blown photo-shoot with my mom acting as Creative Director and Photographer! Next time I will have to get her into a few pics! - Speaking of mom, In just two short weeks, she will be headed to Africa for the World Cup [I have to admit, I am a tad jelly], so hopefully I will have some cool pics to share with all of you upon her return. 

Before leaving yesterday, I quickly shampooed my hair with Lanza Daily Clarifying shampoo to get rid of any buildup, then I followed up with KeraCare moisturizing shampoo. These two shampoo's are definitely my staples. They are awesome used solo, or in conjunction with one another. Some of you may wonder why I use TWO shampoo's; I use one to gently clean the hair of excess oils, "dirt", and sebum [normally a clarifier], and I always follow up w/a moisturizing shampoo to put some moisture back in the hair and restore the proper PH balance.  After shampooing, I did a 5 minute wash and go, as I was really pressed for time. As a matter of fact, I used some ole' regular gel and just raked it through my hair, doused my hair in cold water so that the curls could find each other, and shook my hair until it got big and fluffy, then let it dry. Of course I had the frizzies in some areas, and it completely shriveled up like an old prune in others; but I didn't mind.

My mom gave me this skirt a while back. Although I love the pattern and colors, I wasn't that fond of it, so I decided to wear it as a dress. I added a belt to spruce it up a little, and paired it with some sandals I hardly ever wear from Aldo. Hours into our excursion I remembered why I hardly ever wore them, sometimes my feet slip down and grip the edge of the doggone shoe. Guess these are going into the Goodwill pile, maybe someone else will have better luck with them [on some days you can get 50% your entire order at Goodwill if you make a donation].

Wearing:
Skirt worn as dress: BCBG
Clutch: Vintage Find
Belt: Vintage Find
Sandals: Aldo

A Friend Is Someone Who Understands Your Past, Believes In Your Future, And Accepts You Just The Way You Are!

I never got around to posting these pics of us hamming it up big time in front of the camera, so I thought I would share! These pics are of me, and my sis from another miss. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful friend like Lo, we finish each others sentences, can communicate solely by our facial expressions, talk each other off the ledge [how many of those talks have we had this week?], and we are supportive of each other in every way.

Life is always a little better when you have great people to share it with! Cheers to great friendships, and unconditional support! And thank you Mike for spending your entire day shooting us :-) Happy Friday everyone :-)

I Revealed Too Much Too Soon. I Was Emotionally Slutty - Carrie Bradshaw

One of the benefits of having a lot of platonic male friends is that you get insight as to how men tick, and what turns them off [we already know what turns them on]. One of the most griped about complaints across the board is diarrhea of the mouth. Not necessarily a woman that talks a lot [although it is good to come up for air once in a while], but one that is constantly talking about her ex, or gives you the complete history of all of her relationships for the past 10 years, why they didn't work out, how insecure she was, and what losers they were because they didn't recognize a good thing; all on the first date. According to the fellas, it's a red flag [drama much?]; and a second date may or may not happen.

Do any of you think there is such a thing as revealing too much too soon? I don't know about you, but I don't want to hear about your knife toting ex girlfriend, her down-for-whatever-friends, and the car keying incident one hour into our first date [this is purely hypothetical]. Don't get me wrong, honesty is the best policy, but I don't think a first date is a time where you lay those cards out on the table. Curious on hearing your thoughts about it....

This is another set of pics taken by Michael Britton of His Hers Chicago. I scored this horse skirt at the Boogie Den last weekend, and I am absolutely in love with it. It's girly, ruffle-y, and quirky at the same time!

Wearing:
Hat: Vintage [Estate Sale Find]

Top: Forever 21
Blue Lace Bra: Betsey Johnson
Skirt: Thrifted [From the A&D Boogie Den]
Envelope Clutch: Thrifted [Estate Sale Find]
Double Platforms: Fendi

The One Thing I Wished I Would Have Known Before Going "Natural"

I wish someone would have told me that the hair doesn't make the girl. Furthermore, I wished I would have come to that conclusion myself many moons ago. I spent many days during the beginning of my hair journey hating my appearance, hiding from men, and trying to keep my hair as "neat" as possible to appear more "professional". I never wanted to go out because I felt that people looked at me differently, and I cringed when people referred to me as Afrocentric. <---It was reactions like this that prompted me to take a deeper look at myself. Did reactions like that suggest I had issues with appearing too ethnic? Honestly, at the time I did.


One of my favorite quotes is by Elanor Roosevelt, and she states; No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Had I had more of a stronghold on who I was, I would have never felt insecure about my looks. Going natural is more than just transitioning out of a relaxer, going natural starts with reflecting on what led you to the relax your hair in the first place, and the views you have about yourself. You need to really wrap your brain around the "I am not my hair concept", and realize that there is more to you than a just hairstyle.


My advice to anyone who is going natural is to first transition out of your current frame of mind, and then transition out of your relaxer. It makes dealing with your change in appearance easier, and it even puts you in a position to laugh off ignorant comments, versus trying to find the validity in them [I think it is safe to say that at least 75% percent of people who have taken the plunge to go natural has experienced at least ONE completely ignorant comment], it also makes dealing with those bad hair days easier as well.

To all my sisters out there who went natural, what is the best piece of advice you can give to anyone out there that is toying with the idea of going natural? 

And here are some of my fav pics...just because I haven't posted curlspiration pics in quite some time.

All pics courtesy of Nappy Like Yo Pappy

Don't Be Tardy For The Party: My First Boogie Den Experience

This past weekend I attended A&D Vintage's monthly "Boogie Den" in L.A and loved it! Think late night thrifting whilst listening to live music, and sipping on fruity cocktails [open bar]. This isn't like going to your local Goodwill where it's a hit or miss, this is a warehouse chock-full of HAND-PICKED vintage items. They have everything from rompers, to dresses, sweaters, jeans, lingerie, scarves, shoes, and purses! The kicker is that everything on this night is $7 a pound. Yes, $7 a pound. I left that night with a LARGE trash bag full of clothes for $72.

This is how it works; there is a $10 cover to get in, and upon entry you are supplied with a bunch of trash bags to have a place to store your goodies while you dig through bins and bins of clothing for those one of a kind treasures! Everything is categorized to spare you from pulling your hair out [tops in one bin, dresses in another, and so on], and the entire warehouse is yours for the pickin'.

[Found these cool painted doors off to the left of the stage; cool right?]

The warehouse is also open for business by appointment only during the week [between the hours of 8:30am - 4:30pm], however keep in mind that they are wholesalers [they supply a lot of your favorite Etsy & Ebay sellers], so certain restrictions apply in regards to the pricing [see below]. If you want to purchase the clothing at the rate of $7 a pound without any minimum purchase, then attend the Boogie Den on the last Saturday of the month. 

Regular pricing structure is as follows;
$7 pound - 1500lb minimum
$9 pound - 300lb minimum
$11 pound - 50lb minimum

Regular "by the piece" prices are as follows; 
Dresses starting @ $12
Leather Jackets starting @ $18
** She also ships too, so this is perfect for all of you who aren't in the L.A area! Check out her myspace for more details.

Now can you see why it's such a good idea to head out to their monthly party?! If you are in Los Angeles, the next one is June 26th, [from around 8pm - 2am] hopefully I will see you there :D

Wearing:
Silk Top: Thrifted
Harem Pants: Thrifted
Bag: Thrifted 
Booties: Jeffrey Campbell
------ + My outfit was less than $5 guys!! [not including the shoes], these are a couple of pieces I scored at that huge estate sale I went to a couple of weeks back. Be sure to keep checking the Penny Saver, Craigslist, and EstateSales.net for sales in your area!

Calling All Mixtresses: | The Bentonite Clay Body Wrap

 [I am in love w/head wraps; her skin isn't too shabby either - Source: The Color Is Black]

I finally received my package of Bentonite Clay in the mail, and I put it to use immediately! I try to do a FULL body wrap at least once a month to draw out toxins, improve skin tone, and keep my skin healthy, and glowing. It takes about five minutes to prepare the mixture, another five to apply it, and about an hour to dry. - Last night I diffused Lavender into the air, and meditated for an hour while my wrap dried. Perfect way to center self, while drawing out stressful energy, and pollutants.

Your mix should be spread about one inch thick on your skin, you can use your hands; or you can use a cake spatula like I do [hey; it's no frills over here].

Here is what you need:
1 cup of Bentonite Clay
3 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel
2 cups of Distilled Water
Large Crock Pot
5 thin towels or strips of old sheets
Plastic or Glass Bowl
Spatula

Here is what you do:
1. Boil your water, then remove it from heat; allowing it to stand for about 15 minutes, or until comfortable to the touch. Add the remainder of your ingredients, and mix well.
2. Drink plenty of water prior to applying the body wrap, this helps flush out toxins as well.
3. Take a warm/hot shower before applying the wrap, this will open up your pores.
4. Take 5 thin towels folded lengthwise [ones you don't mind using for this purpose], wet them, wring out the excess water, then stack them in a crock pot set to low. 
6. Apply the mixture to your skin
7. Remove the towels from the crockpot, wrap them around your body.
8. Read a book, listen to music, or meditate for an hour.
9. Rinse in warm water
10. Enjoy your freshly exfoliated skin!


Benefits of Body Wraps:
Tones & Tightens Skin
Purported to Help w/Cellulite
Improves Circulation
Detoxifies Skin

Helps Clear Up Acne/Blemishes
Relieves Joint Pain

Purported to Help w/Weight Loss <--Although I never noticed this.

In The Kitchen: Garlic Roast Chicken

Well guys, I am officially on somewhat of a diet. Not like a hard-core diet, but one that won't consist of Enchilada's filled with cheese, or Strawberry Cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Tomorrow I am starting my sunrise yoga sessions, and I want to maximize my results by cutting out all that "good stuff" for a while. Then once I have reached my goal, I will re-visit those tasty treats...all in moderation of course :-)

Usually when I make a recipe from my Ina Garten files, it consists of about a pound of butter, or a kilo of cheese [sorry Ina it's true, but I still love you]. So imagine my delight when I came across this recipe which didn't include any of my aforementioned vices. Of course I made a few adjustments [I added asparagus, and used "red potatoes" instead of the "yukon gold" variety]. I also tossed in a bouquet garni [parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and rosemary tied together with kitchen string] inside of the chicken for added flavor. You can use any herbs you have on hand for the bouquet garni, or you can skip it all together. I like using herbs to give my dishes more flavor, it helps cut back on the salt content.

This was a delicious recipe, the chicken had a ton of flavor, and it was very moist. Pair this recipe with a nice Reisling, and hang the Do Not Disturb tag on the door. - Quick note; please remember to use KOSHER SALT, in lieu of table salt. If you use table salt, a salty mess will ensue. Here is a cool little kitchen reference that discusses the difference between Kosher, Sea, and Table Salt.

Garlic Roast Chicken [Adapted From Ina Garten]
1 (5 to 6-pound) roasting chicken
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 heads garlic, cut in 1/2 crosswise
1 lemon, halved
1/2 large Spanish onion, thickly sliced
4 carrots cut diagonally into 2-inch chunks
5 large red gold potatoes, cut into 6 pieces
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 "bunch" of asparagus
1 bouquet garni [I used fresh parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and rosemary tied together with kitchen string, although you can use your favorite herbs]

As soon as you get the chicken home, salt it inside and out, wrap it and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

When you are ready to cook the chicken, first preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Pat the outside of the chicken dry with paper towels. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken and stuff the cavity with the all the garlic, bouquet garni and lemon.

Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place it in a roasting pan just large enough to hold it and the vegetables. Scatter the onion slices, carrots, asparagus and potatoes around the chicken. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken to a platter and cover with aluminum foil.

Place the vegetables back in the oven and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes.

When the vegetables are cooked, carve the chicken and place the slices on the platter surrounded by the vegetables. Drizzle some pan juices over the chicken and vegetables.

Promise Me You'll Always Remember: You're Braver Than You Believe, And Stronger Than You Seem, And Smarter Than You Think - A.A Milne

I hope everyone had a fabulous three day weekend! A big thank you to all of our troops who put their lives on the line everyday, I truly appreciate the work you do each and every day!!!! My heart also goes out to the families of all of our brave fallen soldiers. -

As you can see my hair is still pressed. As it gets 'older', it starts to get more bouffant-ish, so it is at this time that I normally do a braid out, or Caruso set. This weekend, I opted for a Caruso set. I didn't leave the curlers in my hair that long [I normally leave them in for an hour], but it still gave me a bit of curl nonetheless.

If you try the Caruso set, make sure you have enough water in the component at all times [Keep the water level at the fill line]. This ensures that you get the same amount of hold throughout your entire head.

I scored this little bat-wing style shirt and clutch bag at an estate sale. I believe both items were a dollar. The skirt I picked up at Wasteland a year or so ago; I think it has been one of my favorite "wasteland" finds aside from this dress.

Even though there isn't yellow in my outfit. I chose the yellow bag for an unexpected splash of color. 

Big shoutout to Michael Britton of His Hers Chicago for the photo shoot!

Wearing:
Lace Top: H&M
Floral Blouse: Thrifted
Skirt: Thrifted
Tights: H&M
Purse: Thrifted
Booties: Jeffrey Campbell