Properly Improper

We Are All Violet Jones

No truer words about hair and change have ever been written, especially for Black women. Every woman has some love hate relationship with their hair because it defines us in ways we either positively accept or vigorously reject.

We have obliterated the notion that it’s ‘just hair’because for us it has never been just hair. Our hair has always told a story from the beginning of ancient African…

Shades of Brown in Summer: Spotty Skin

Sunscreen for Spots

As a dark skin girl who hated the idea of my skin getting even darker in the summer I spent my teenage and early twenties running away from the sun at peak hours. I didn’t love my darker hue in my thirties but I accepted it since I spent many days taking my children to the beach. In my forties as I started to embrace my natural hair I believe that is when I also decided to…

1. Exercise. Probably the last thing you want to do when you feel angst but it honestly is a great stress reliever. Studies show that twenty-one minutes of exercise helps to reduce anxious feelings and flood your body with endorphins. Truth: I don’t exercise regularly but when I do commit to a cardio class I walk away feeling like I can conquer the world. My mind is clear, my mood is lifted and I feel like whatever problem I’m experiencing in the moment can be fixed with a well-thought out plan. Exercise naturally boosts your mood, increases relaxation, and alleviates symptoms of anxiety. 21 mins yall, just 21 mins!

2. Drink Chamomile Tea. Yes, the Zen of tea. Chamomile promotes relaxation and reduces stress which is why I take it often on the evenings I find it hard to wind down when I have a big event the next day. Drinking 2-3 cups a day should help with anxiety. Try substituting chamomile tea for coffee. Although caffeine boosts your energy temporarily it can also make you jittery and anxious. Keep that in mind as you pour that glass of soda or take in medications with huge amounts of caffeine..

  3. Omega-3s. The fatty acids found in Omega-3s may help to lower levels of stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol in the body. Tuna, salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds are great sources as well as daily vitamin supplements. I like to pour a little flaxseed on my oatmeal in the morning unfortunately it does not add a great taste to it but I recognize the benefits so I suck it up.

  4. Try Lavender. Is known to be a calming and relaxing herb. Use it as a massage oil to release tensions. The smell of lavender on your pillow has been known to help you stay in a deeper sleep longer throughout the night. Try a few drops in a hot bath along with Epsom salts which also helps to calm anxiety.

5. L-lysine. L-lysine is an amino acid and one of the building blocks of your brains chemical messengers. Studies show that L-lysine supplements reduce symptoms of anxiety and stress levels. It can be found in meat, fish, and beans but also as a vitamin supplement.

6. Friends. We always need a sounding board. Someone we can vent to or with. A squad that is fair, balanced, and truthful. A good squad that can help talk us down when anxiety is high. Nothing like your friends!

  These are some healthy tips for dealing with occasional anxiety we may have but I cannot emphasize enough that if you are feeling overwhelmingly anxious please speak with your doctor.

Activated charcoal is not your charcoal briquettes. Activated charcoal, emphasis on activated, is created when you take carbon sources like coconut shells, bone char, coal, olive pits or sawdust (I know those ingredients sound somewhat disturbing but trust me the end result is amazing for you) these carbon sources are cooked at a high temperature and a chemical reaction occurs. The high temperatures change its internal structure, reducing the size of its pores and increasing its surface area. It is in these pores that chemicals and impurities are caught and cleansed from the body.

In powder form activated charcoal can be used for many beauty treatments for women and men.

Treats acne– sucks impurities from the skin, reduces inflammation and cleans pores. Great as a mask, scrub, or soap wash

Whitens Teeth– by bonding to organic surfaces, your food-coffee and nicotine -activated charcoal scrubs off plaque and tarter as it whitens.

Make your own eyeliner- just add a bit of distilled water to the powder and VIOLA!

Whitens Dark Underarms– mix with raw honey and lemon. It exfoliates the skin and lifts dark dead skin cells

Great for bug bites– reduces inflammation, relieves itching and soothes the skin.

Balances oily skin– sucks out excess oil in the skin

Gets rid of acne scars and blemishes-its slightly abrasive texture acts as a great exfoliate for the face to help fade dark spots (don’t forget the sunscreen)

Check out this link for more uses and also stop by Mixx to pick up some great activated charcoal products!

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I have been a huge Anglogphile since I watched Dr. Who repeats on PBS as a child (the one with the scary intro equivalent to Night Gallery). I watched Diana marry Charles, I watched Charles, William, and Harry bury Diana and I sure as hell woke up at 4am to watch Harry marry Meghan. I got real bougie and decided to forgo American channels and watched the wedding on ITV out of London. It was…

Self-Care For Black Men

In Trumps America Black men, women and our children as well as other people of color are the consistent targets of overt and covert harassment. Just this week I read a story about a Black man strolling his son in the park only to have park security roll up on him to let him know that someone reported a suspicious looking man pushing a baby carriage. This man in a pair of khakis pushing his OWN…

Finally, the warm weather gods have decided to grace us with back to back warm days. Looks like spring is upon us and summer is coming. Time to change up that winter regimen for summer hair care.

Sadly, I did not do a great job taking care of my hair this winter. I only had one trim and I more or less only pampered my hair on Sunday wash day. I did manage to deep condition at least once a week…

Yoga for the Culture: Ella Baker

Hello World!!

Let’s talk about Ella “Bae” Baker  ❤ real quick!

Ella Baker spent nearly half a century raising the political consciousness of Americans, and played a major role in three of the 20th century’s most influential civil rights groups: the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). While those groups typically had…

Anxiety of Social Media

Angry Anxious Combative Fearful Powerless Tense Helpless Abandoned Confrontational

These are the sensation of emotions I feel as I scroll through my Facebook page throughout the day. Between the police shootings, an unhinged man in the White House, a racist GOP agenda, random racist attacks uploaded and shared by thousands, hoteps posting a million videos on why black women are the root of most…

Here we are folks just days away from a new president elect. Scary, isn’t it? I cannot wait till it is over and I hope with every cell in my body that Donald Trump experiences the most devastating loss in American politics.

I know many are trying to make this a three or four person race but it is not it is a two person race between race between the most racist disgusting human being on the planet…

Trump Needs To Show Us His Taxes: Sign If You Agree

Michael Steele believes that Americans do not want to see Donald Trump’s tax returns. Maybe Trump supporters and the GOP are willing to believe Trumps excuses but  the rest of America chooses evidence over talk.

The media has consistently given Trump a pass on releasing his information, lowering the bar yet again for this candidate. There is no legitimate reason for him withholding tax…

On Style: A Sucker Born Every Minute

Per the New York Post upscale stores like Barney’s and Nordstom are selling Golden Goose Distressed sneakers…I would say beat to shit sneakers…for $600, duct tape included.

$600!!!!!! I have never heard of Golden Goose sneakers and now I know why.

I’m over here stressing over how to make a dollar out of fifteen cents when all I had to do was dig out some beat up sneakers from a dumpsters and…

OMG!!!!! I’m still laughing. I guess I remember some of these looks but I swear my uncles were a lot more stylish than these pics would lead anyone born in the eighties and nineties to believe. One of my uncles was the splitting image of Richard Roundtree including the black leather jacket…the original Shaft for you millennial babies…

He is the image I have of the 70s

  But my uncles were not all of the men of the 70’s obviously and what was happening outside of my inner circle is nothing but straight hilarity.

I do remember those ponchos. I had one when I was ten. I killed it. But I look at this picture and all I can do is scream ‘FOR WHY?” and Please don’t ever bring these back!

Hey Mike Brady!!!!

DUDE!!!!!! I think Prince revamped that purple suit and ruffles.

This burns my eyes.

Cheers to forever sleeping alone.

On Dying: Our Marjorie

My neighbor of fifteen years is dying in a hospice from pancreatic cancer. Something she didn’t want to share with anyone so I’m just finding out this week in her final days and hours. I understand her not wanting everyone to know I am just as private when it comes to my own personal tragedies but I would like to have been able to tell her what a wonderful neighbor she has been all these years. I…

On Monday: Good Thoughts

This morning and throughout the day plot out your peace and stay there. Stay on your purpose and upgrade your conviction. All good things come to those who fight for it.

About five September magazines arrived yesterday and although I don’t want the summer to end their fall fashion preview has me very ready to slip into a black turtleneck, wool skirt, and a cool pair of leather booties.

On Police: Austin Harrouf the Cannibal Killer

Austin Harrouf went mad two days ago and stabbed a married couple to death in their garage. He proceeded to stab a neighbor who tried to intervene. When the police arrived he was over the male victim trying to eat his face.

The police demanded he get off the victim, then they tasered him, he didn’t go down so they tasered him again, then they called out the dogs, and then other police officers…