Natural Beauty spotlight - Kara from LA!

Kara is my natural beauty inspiration of the week. I love her retro style, vibrant colors and gorgeous hair. Kara keep being you.... cause it works!

My "Hair Bible"

When I started my loc journey, I was on the hunt for any and all the information I could find on hair maintenance, loc styles, the loc'd and deadlock community and more! I was happy that I was able to find wealth of information on the Internet. But shocked and saddened that mainstream publications pretty much ignored or didn't acknowledge women or men with dreadlocks / loc’s.



Once in a while, I would see an article in Essence Magazine featuring a loc style. Or there might be a featured article in an African American hair magazine. But that’s it. In a world where straight hair is the ultimate goal - all I saw when I opened magazines where tips, tricks, products and every idea imaginable on how to get, keep and maintain long straight hair. For quite a while I felt as if society did not value the beauty of loc'd hair. So I decided that I had to move passed that desire, for everyone to see the beauty in natural hair, which I saw. For some, that day may never come. But one of the challenges of having loc'd hair is being able to love your crown of hair, no matter what any one else has to say. From that point on - I decided to make my own "hair bible" as I like to call them. Over the years I have collected photo, articles, how-to guides, recipes, maintenance idea's, inspirational stories and lots of information on dreadlock / loc accessories and styles.



I treated these binders as my own source of information, guidance and inspiration. If I ever felt lost about my choice to be natural or if I feel like I am own my own... all I have to do is open up one of my binders and look at all of the information I have put together. It took time, love and patience. I hope that in the future, we can pick up a mainstream publication like Elle, Vogue or W Magazine, and see someone that looks like us throughout the magazine. Until then, I will continue to add to my own collection of amazing pictures, articles and stores sharing knowledge, and more.

Answers.

This was a lot of fun, and here are the answers to your questions!

Moi Luna: If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be and what would you do? That's such a difficult question - which I have been trying to think through, but I haven't been able to come up with a good answer. Nevertheless, I would want to be some historical person, to be able to experience history I've only ever read about myself. I don't know if I would even need to be some famous historical person since I think just being there would be special enough. Therefore I wouldn't really want to do anything in particular - I would just want to observe, take in.

Mo: How on earth do you handle the long distance relationship? It is difficult, and especially now after being with my boyfriend for two and a half years we both feel that we've had enough of this situation. So far I have been able to handle the distance pretty well - I think because I knew, going into this relationship, that it was going to be like that. I didn't have any other expectations, and I therefore adjusted to the situation. But like I said, we don't want it to continue like this for a lot longer and we are planning to move together - which isn't the simplest thing when you live in such different countries.

Zoë: What kind of literature do you like? I really wish I read more since I love reading when I have a good book to read. I'm just not good at finding them. (hint, hint: book recommendations are very welcome!) That said, I like novels where you really feel a deep connection with the characters, whimsical and somewhat strange novels, but also historical novels (novels set in a history, mind you, not those that go on and on about historical fact and bore you to death). A few years ago I kept reading a lot of novels about the Holocaust, which I was really interested in, for instance, and this is one novel that I really liked.

Curiositist: Have you had any fairy tale which inspired you in your childhood? This one is difficult too since it's hard to remember. I know that I definitely liked fairy tales a lot when I was a little girl. Any fairy tale that involved princesses!

(Picture by Maya Bird)

Sam: If you could choose, in which city would you want to live and it wouldn't cost you anything? Paris, maybe? Or London? Stockholm? Even if I would love to live in all these places I don't know if I would permanently want to do that - but having an apartment in any of these places that I could visit whenever I wanted to would be incredible.

Beckylou: What's your dream job? As some of you probably know, I'm going to become a teacher, which I enjoy and think is fun. That's the plan, and I don't have very long left until I'm done but from time to time I dream about doing something different since teaching seems too ordinary. I want to do something exciting, like maybe be a designer. The problem is that I feel too old to start something new now, but the bigger problem is that I can't sew or draw. It's just a silly dream I guess.

Zoe: What age did you realise you loved fashion? I think that's something which has grown gradually, but I only really started being interested in fashion in it self, not just nice clothes and shopping, some years ago.

Caiushia: How much time on average do you spend shopping/looking for clothes: I most definitely spend a lot more time just looking at or for clothes than actively shopping. I spend quite a lot of my time browsing different websites, ebay, or etsy without actually buying anything - usually an hour or so a day. I don't go shopping that often since I buy a lot of my clothes online, and how much I go depends on how much time I have... but maybe once a week (though not necessarily buying anything)?

Izzyinwonderland: How do you keep your hair so beautiful? Well, thanks first of all! I don't use very many special products, if that's what you had in mind. Every other week or so I use a lecithin and coconut hair masque from Kiehl's which makes my hair really soft, and I use L'oreal silver shampoo about once a week to avoid my hair getting yellowish. Other than that, any kind of shampoo and conditioner that I pick up when I go grocery shopping.

Dooder City: Favorite color and why? Green. I've always said that green's my favourite colour, perhaps because it reminds me of summer and deep forests? 

Becca Jane: Do you have any fashion "muses"- anyone whose style you admire? If so, who? Hmm, I wouldn't refer to any of them as muses because it would feel just a little strange though I greatly admire the style of Sandra from Niotillfem, as well as other bloggers with impeccable style. 

Notebookdoodles: What do you like to do in your spare time? Socializing, spending too much time on the internet, blogging, watching films, cooking and lazing around.

Elizabeth: What is your favorite thing about fashion? Probably that it's so versatile, creative and can be interpreted in so many different ways. 

Britney: What got you into fashion? I can't point to a particular thing that triggered my interest in it since it's something that's gradually developed. It's probably a combination of other people and the media.

Raquel: Where do you wish to live? With my boyfriend!

Much love: What's the best thing about blogging? Being able to express ideas and thoughts to such a broad and diverse audience. Writing down my ideas and thoughts, and seeing what other peoples ideas and thoughts are also makes myself think more, and makes me have to define myself to myself in a way that I never had before. It makes me more aware of what my likes and dislikes are.

Amalie: When did you first develop an interest in fashion and when did you start having your own style without following mainstream fashion? I think I answered the first part of this question in some way or another further up, so I won't try to elaborate on it again. Starting blogging has really helped me develop my own style I'd say. I suppose only a year or a little more ago, I would still follow mainstream fashion - not embracing every trend possible - but I definitely cared about being trendy as opposed to committing to my own style because there were so many different trends out there that I liked. I may from time to time like clothes that I wouldn't consider being my style now, but I wouldn't buy it since it wouldn't correspond with it.

Couture Carrie: How long have you been blogging and what are your must see blogs? Around a year or so. I really love the Niotillfem blog. Sandra is such an amazing writer, and I love reading about her life, seeing her pictures and so on. I can read her blog for hours and never get bored reading old posts again and again. I also like the Cherryblossomgirl a lot because it's like stepping into a fairy tale world.

Maria G: What do you like best about blogging and what less? What places do you like best? What I like best is being able to express myself and document parts of my life, and what I don't like so much is the fact that it is sometimes hard to find inspiration. My favourite places are my hometown in the summer, London, Paris, Sweden, and Israel.

Demi: What is your favourite season? How would you describe yourself in three words? Summer, most definitely. I also like pretty, sunny autumn days when all the colours are so pretty. I would describe myself  in three words as friendly, dreamy and stubborn.

Regine: What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have any siblings? Where do you mostly shop? What kind of perfume do you use? I like to listen to the Kings of Leon, Radiohead, the Kinks, the Killers, Regina Spektor the Fray, the Kooks and Paolo Nutini, among others. I have three younger siblings - two sisters who are 20 and 14 and a brother who's 18. I buy a lot of my clothes online - on ebay. I love discovering unique clothing there. Otherwise I shop a lot at H&M, and I like Noa Noa a lot for their delicate clothes. I have three perfumes that I alternate between - Chloé, Anna Sui Secret Wish and Comme des garcons. 

Ruxandra: In your childhood, who was your idol? Do you have a special place that you could stay forever and still not get enough of it? What are your favourite 3 pieces in your wardrobe and why? I was a huge, huge Hanson fan when I was about 13-15 (I still like them, just not in a crazy way)... I don't know if that qualifies as childhood, really. When I was a little girl I was really mesmerized in the characters in Astrid Lindgren's books, and the film depictions thereof. I loved 'Pippi Longstocking', 'Madicken', 'Ronia the Robber's daughter' and 'The children of noisy village' since they seemed to have so much fun and lived in the old days - something that's always fascinated me. 

I would love to answer that I do have a special place I would never get enough of, but no matter how much I twist and turn my mind nothing pops up. I have to say that I do love the tranquility I feel when I go for walks in the woods back home, something I could do for hours, but I could not stay there forever. 

My three most beloved pieces in my wardrobe are this and this dress, and these shorts.

Andrea: I'm not sure I have a specific question for you, but I like to see blogger's beauty routines, what products they use and recommend, what perfume, etc. I wrote a little bit about my beauty routine in this tag post - it's probably easier to take a look there. I have to say that I love Mac makeup and couldn't recommend it enough.

I.d: Who is your favourite fashion designer? Oh, it's completely impossible to choose just one. I love Marc Jacobs, Sonia Rykiel, Chloe, Cacharel, Eley Kishimoto, Miu Miu...

Aggy: Favourite outfit: That I have worn myself? Maybe this one, this one or this one?

Twobreadsplease: What's your favourite type of cake? Chocolate, or brownie. I also love carrot, apple and spice cake. 

Long Black hairstyles

Beautiful long black hairstyle

Long black hairstyle for women


black hair style pictures for women.

Ask me...

I've decided to have a little question session here on my blog because I haven't really had the time to figure out what else to write about, but also because I've received a couple of emails from people asking if I could have a Q&A. It feels sort of strange to have one of these question posts - very self absorbed in a way, and I also feel a little nervous that no one is going to ask anything. I hope you will, though. So please, go ahead, ask me anything from a to z and I'll do my best trying to answer as honestly as possible!


(Picture by Tiger Lily and Tiny Teeth)

Is it getting warmer?

Today it sort of seemed like the winter was finally letting go - the snow was slushy, and melting and the air sort of warmish. It made me wonder if spring is on it's way. Though I think I'm only going to fool myself if I think that, and this is probably just a mild period. It's too bad that it's only February and not March or April already.



Dress from Zara, tights from Filippa K, shoes and top from Noa Noa.

Now I must get back to planning what I'm going to teach in this week's lessons. I seriously wish I'd have done this earlier when I had more time.

Tight & Curly by Teri

I found this great site called Tightly Curly Hair by a woman named Teri. Why would I be looking at a website for woman with curly hair?... you ask. Well it's simple, I have two daughters that are mulit-cultural, and they have big curly hair. We have tons of products at home, but still have not found that perfect combination of shampoo and conditioner for them.

So often, instead of them having these big beautiful curls, they walk around with curly puff balls for hair (here is a picture if my little ones with their hair down).

It's cute, but I know it can be better. I am still learning. So for me, websites like Teri's are godsends. I look forward to learning more about what products to look for what will work best for my girls. Something that will keep the curls formed and keep their hair moisturized.

I am so looking forward to checking out a website called Mixed Chicks: http://www.mixedchicks.net , a website by Wendi Levy and Kim Etheredge.

Feel free to offer suggestions or share you experience with curly hair.

Copenhagen, Edith & Ella and awards.

Yesterday I went to Copenhagen and I don't think I really enjoyed it as much as I should have. The weather was so cold and slushy, I didn't feel like going around much, seeing sights and such. All I did was walk around for a few hours, buying little things such as a new mascara, tea, a plain knitted vest on sale, and some other small things.




One thing I did enjoy though, was that I came across the most amazing shop called Edith & Ella which sells ridiculously cute retro inspired clothing. I was given a catalogue by the shop assistant there, and I thought I'd share it with you.


Unfortunately I didn't buy anything there because I even though everything was really pretty, there wasn't anything there that I felt that I had to have. I will probably go back to Copenhagen next month when my sister is coming to see me, and hopefully the weather will be better then and it'll be more fun to go together with someone - and then I'm definitely going to drop by Edith & Ella again to see if they have anything new in.

I have postponed the awards I've received recently for a long time, so I thought I would just include them all in this post. I've also added the awards I've received in the side bar since I always feel quite bad when someone gives me an award that I've already received. For some reason I think it makes me sound sort of selfish if I then mention an award again, and I also think there are so many other great blogs out there that deserve these awards. Therefore I am passing on the following awards to all of you who have never received an award, or haven't really received many awards.
Princess Daisy gave me this sweet award. Thanks, sweetie!


I was given this lovely, sparkly award by Anna of Much love. Thank you so much, dear!


And finally, Kay of The Stitched and Deana of Dooder City gave me this lovely one. Thank you, lovelies!

Brides Summer hairstyles

Nice for a summer wedding with the wispy bangs and soft updo.

I love the bokeh in this one. ("bokeh" is a new word I learned :-)
hair for brides, bridal hair, different looks for bride's hair

Laziness.

I've had a winter break since last Thursday, and thinking about how I've wasted my time doing nothing at all makes me feel kind of sad. I had planned on doing lots of reading, exercising, going on trips,  getting up early and whatnot, and none of it has happened. I guess I'm just the kind of person who gets lazier the less I have to do. But I've booked tickets to go to Copenhagen tomorrow, so then I have no choice but to get up early. I'm quite excited - it's been four years or so since last time I was there.

This is what I wore yesterday, and I guess you can sort of see what my new haircut looks like too.



Coat; Thomas Burberry, skirt and top; H&M, two-coloured tights; American Apparel, shoes; Topshop, scarf in hair; gift from my sister, originally Accessorize.

Someone, send some warmer weather.

I was so cold taking these pictures outside yesterday. It may not look so cold because of the sunshine, but trust me, it was. I really wish spring could come, but I guess it'll be another couple of months before I can enjoy some spring weather.




Leotard; Gina Tricot, skirt; thrifted, tights; Noa Noa, shoes; Bronx, hair bow; ICA.
I went to the hairdresser today (the pictures are from yesterday, so I'll show you another day) for a cut and some highlights. I don't know when the last time I had my hair this short was, so it will take some time getting used to. I think I like it though...

Hello pretty, red Burberry coat!

As you might guess from the headline, I've acquired a coat by Thomas Burberry today. It was sort of an impulse buy, but the coat was on sale and I'd wanted a pretty red coat for so long. I had quite a hard time choosing between this one and a red Marc by Marc Jacobs coat, which was really nice too, and really warm and thick, but I thought the Burberry coat had a nicer cut. I also bought some bubblegum coloured tights from Filippa K.


The coat I bought.


The Marc by Marc Jacobs coat.

I also walked around in Helsingborg and I took some nice pictures. I'm really starting to like this city a lot!


Can you see Denmark in background?




I love the way this forest looks - so magical!


I thought this was so charming and quirky.

Red emo hairstyle

Trendy Red emo hairstyle for girls

Popular colors for highlights currently tend to be blue, red and purple.
beautiful Red color emo hair style.

Vegetable soup.

This evening I decided to make some vegetable soup, which is very filling and tasty, and you can keep what you don't eat for several days in the fridge and just heat up when you feel like it.
Here is how I made my vegetable soup.

1. Peel and cut potatoes in squares and let boil.



2. Add carrots


3. Then add some pre-boiled green lentils to the soup after the potatoes and carrots have boiled for a little bit.


4. Add some vegetable broth.


5. Throw some bean sprouts in if you want.


6. Fry garlic and onion and then add to soup.


7. Add paprika.


8. And voilá! I put some parsley on my soup too to make it look nicer.



Delicious.