Should I Resume Relaxing My Natural Hair Again?

There was a huge increase in the number of views to my blog on July 23, 2020 - 4087 to be exact and from then onwards the average daily number of views is about 200.  I am grateful.  The big chunk of the views are from Hong Kong - quite odd.  I am curious to know why that is.  I suspect that my blog is being use for English Language online lessons?

I only noticed this increase about two weeks ago and have been going through the blog posts, checking for typographical errors, changing the fonts for a more uniform look and adjusting the layout of the photos.

During the process I saw some photos with my hair relaxed and it looked so good that I had to ask myself if I should resume relaxing my natural hair again.

A few days ago I washed my hair with some Herbal Essence Shampoo - Moroccan My Shine and conditioned it with some Garnier Fructis Conditioner - Moisture Lock.  As I was going through the process I felt the curls of my hair feeling very pronounced.  I toweled dried my hair a bit and proceed to style my natural hair.  First I applied some Cantu Shea butter Daily Oil Moisturizer to my hair and styled.  I just brushed the edges and pulled my hair together into one - not combing out the ends - leaving my curls well pronounced.  I loved the look of my hair style.  

Results like these would deter me from resuming relaxing my natural hair.  I have to remember why I started this journey.  I really love seeing other people with their natural hair and the world need to see the black woman's natural hair in all it natural beauty!  Black women hair is beautiful!!!

So I ask you do you think I should resume relaxing my natural hair?

Real Sou Sou Explained

In my last blog post, the topic was about a new pyramid scheme - Ponzi scheme that is going around these days called Friends And Family Share (it is also known by other names).  So in this post I decided to explain the operations of a real Sou Sou (also known as a Box Hand in the Caribbean).

The real sou sou is a system where close family and friends, a group of employees get together and save money together as a group.  Out of the group one person is the treasurer.  Most times this person is the one who starts up the Sou Sou.  From my experience, the only time I joined a Sou Sou is when I get feedback from either a family member or friend that there was a Sou Sou and was operated excellently.

All the members in the sou sou are trustworthy people and invest their monies either weekly, every two weeks or every month.  Each member is informed of the amount of money that has to be invested each pay period and the amount of money they will receive when they do a 'withdrawal' (that is when each member is suppose to receive their money).    

How it works:  Example:  There are six people in the sou sou and each person is required to invest one hundred dollars each month.  The sou sou will run for a period of six months and each month a different person in the group will receive six hundred dollars. 

At the end of the first month, each person is required to give their investment to the treasurer.  When all the monies are collected, it is given to the person who requested to make the first 'withdrawal'. 

At the end of the second month the same thing happens but a different member of the group makes a 'withdrawal'.

The duties of the treasurer are as follows:

• obtain members for the upcoming sou sou
• identify the amount each person has to invest.  The length of the sou sou will depend on the number of people in the group.
• before the start of the sou sou, the treasurer takes note of when each person wants to 'withdraw' their investment.  

My mother invested in sou sous on numerous occasions with a group of her friends at work.  Most times she would use the money to purchase my schools books, make a lumpsum mortgage payment or go on a vacation overseas.  The last time I was in one, when I withdrew my investment, I was able to use the money to purchase a new computer as the one I had crashed.

With the real sou sou, you are NOT required to bring in anyone else to the group.  However if you want to invite someone, it is welcomed but it is understood that whoever you invite, the person must be trust worthy.  As a matter of fact, the smaller the group the better.  That way the sou sou will finish faster.

This is a great way to save money because most times many people have difficulty saving under normal situations.  

2020 Pyramid Scheme - Family and Friends Share - SCAM BE WARNED

Hello my friends, today I talk about a program that is being talked about these days. It is known by many names such Friends And Family Share, Blessings Loom, Modern Day Sou Sou.

My husband approached me with this program about two months ago, his information was very vague - the person (a member of his family) who presented the information to my husband, made the program sound very enticing and he wanted to join. Right away I knew what it was and told him - No Way - this is a pyramid scheme! Yet he insisted that he wanted to join when he got some money. We never got the opportunity to join. Thank Goodness!!!

I was also approached by another family member and I told her that I was not interested but did not give her the reason why. My husband said that a few members of his family who had already joined had already received the monies there were promised.

How the program works: You join with $500.00 and gain $4000.00 which in a very space of time. You are required to bring in two people to join the group with the same $500.00 and they too will each have to bring in two people. Some groups promise to help you get people to join if you are unable to get people to join. If you are unable to get people to join and you are unable to get assistance from the person you joined under, you would not be able to get the amount that was promised.

My Story: I was involved in a pyramid scheme - just like this one - about twenty five years ago. My friends and I, who were involved in the program, were all excited to reach the point when we could 'withdraw' a certain amount of money after a short period of time.

In my first round, I got the amount I was supposed to! Great! I was able to bring in people and they were able to bring in people. But the second time around, I received about half of the amount I was suppose to receive and the difference was hard in coming. It got to a point where a few people who I recruited were harassing me to get their monies back. I think I had to reimbursement them out of my pocket just to get them off my back.

Now in 2020 this scheme has appeared again - during this COVID-19 pandemic period. A time where many people are not working and are struggling to pay their rent, pay their utility bills. So I could just image how enticing this program would sound to them - the ones who have never heard about a pyramid program before. Its sad though.

My son also joined the program. I found out about it long after. I had to tell him that is a pyramid scheme. I spoke to him a few days ago to get an update and he replied that it is not going well at all.

Check out my blog post in which I share my story about how I was scammed online in 2020. CLICK HERE

Third Act Of Kindness | View Of Josiah's Bay, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Tortola British Virgin Islands

On Monday April 27, 2020, in the British Virgin Islands, the 24 hours curfew was relaxed to a soft curfew from 1 pm to 6 am.  So I woke up early in the morning and headed out for an early morning walk.  I have not gone out walking for a long time.  It is long over due. 

In this episode of my 20 Acts Of Kindness, I share my third Act Of Kindness.  This act of kindness was not from me but TO me.  My story goes like this.  On one of my other YouTube channels, I was short of ideas for video content.  On that channel I like to go around the island and get related video footage.  But on account of the 24 hours curfew, I was unable to go anywhere.  I saw a drone footage on Facebook and thought I would reach out to the person who uploaded the video and ask if he can do one for me and what was the cost etc.  

After receiving the necessary information, I told the young man I would get back to him.  I decided with the current going ons in the world right now, this expense would fall in the category of an luxury expense and it should be put on the back burner for the while.  

The day prior to my recording the video below, the young man contacted me via Facebook messenger and informed me that he had the opportunity to get some footage and he did some for me FREE of charge!!  I was so surprised and happy!!!  He said that he is aware of the economic situation of the community right now and decided to do the free footage for me.  I am so grateful for this gesture.

During my walk, I took the opportunity to show you some views from the area I walked - Josiah's Bay, Atlantic Ocean and a view of the Caribbean sea.  By the time I returned to my car, my small toe on my left foot was bruised.  The mistake I made was not putting on a pair of socks before putting on my shoes.  This would not happen again.

Check out my playlist with Act Of Kindness

5 Beauty Tips For While You At Home 😷COVID-19 Quarantine Period

In this blog post I share with you some simple beauty tips that you can apply while at home during this COVID-19 quarantine period.

Protect Your Hair

I have not combed my natural hair for quite a few days and I realized that I need to comb my hair into a protective style of some sort. Currently my hair is in small Bantu knots. First I separated my hair into small sections and twist each section. Then I wrapped each twist into a Bantu knot.

If your hair is natural or not, comb your hair in a protective style. If your hair is relaxed and you have not been able to go to your hair dresser because of being in quarantine, its possible you may have new hair growth.

Be gentle in combing your hair. With the new growth and the ends still being straight, you may experience hair breakage while combing your hair. Comb your hair in a protective style until you get the opportunity to go to your hair dresser.

Prevent Your Ear Piercing From Being Clogged

Being at home for days upon days and not going any where, I have not been putting any earrings into my ear piercing. I recently started putting a pair of earring into my piercing to present them from clogging up. Read this blog post for more on this topic

At Home Foot Care

I normally get a pedicure every month but in the interim of my next professional pedicure, I have been using my favorite foot file - Bittny Foot File with a round wood handle, to scrub my heels and keep them smooth and remove the dead cells that have been building up.

Cleanse Your Face

Use the opportunity to cleanse your face, as you may not be applying make up every day as you normally would if you were going to work. Use your favorite cleanser and clean your face, allow your pores to breath. If you don't have any face cleanser, I am hoping that you have some baking soda in your pantry. Mix a small amount of the baking soda and olive oil together and apply to your face. Trust me, you will feel so good by just apply this mixture to your face. Your face will thank you for it. Leave the mixture on your face for about 15-25 minutes then wash your face.

Monitor Your Acrylic Nails For Any Fungus

As we are washing our hands more often than usual, if you have acrylic nails and they are beginning to grow, the acrylic will eventually raise up and water will get under the acrylic. Fungus may eventually develop on the nail bed, The nail bed will look green and may begin to hurt. You may have to cut down the nails and remove the acrylic. Treat the nails with some olive oil by massaging the olive oil on the nails until you have the opportunity to get your nails redone. Read my blog post in which I share my experience.

Please note if you do develop a fungus on your nails, your nail technician may not apply any acrylic to the nails until they are healed.