Pure Brazilian Treatment = Brazilian Model Hair!

     Recently, I decided to get a Pure Brazilian smoothing treatment (different than the Brazilian Blowout), because I was getting tired of my wild mane. I've been called Mufasa since my freshman year of high school so you can probably get an idea of how my hair has looked. I actually loved my wild curls and big hair at times, but I was tired of it being frizzy, dry, and tangled all the time. I'm getting married soon and wanted to do some good to my hair for once and get it in tip-top shape fast!

After talking to my best friend, Andrea, who's an incredible hair dresser, she told me I could try the Pure Brazilian smoothing treatment to get it healthy and it will last for 2-4 months. I was scared of getting rid of my curls, because I've heard of Brazilian Blowouts and smoothing treatments straightening your hair and just having chemicals, but her and Rico, the owner of Salon NV, told me it's different and won't get rid of the curls, just the frizz, and it'll put protein back in my hair, which is exactly what I needed. I wasn't sure if I should also color my hair, but they told me that since my hair color was nice and just missing shine, the treatment would help revive the color. I was sold pretty quickly so we began the session.

Andrea washed my hair with clarifying shampoo, which was preparation for the treatment and might I add, smelled uh-mazing! She then parted my hair in sections and combed my hair with the treatment throughout my hair till it surrounded each hair shaft. Then she blow dried my hair and went over it with the straightener about 4-6 times in each section. She said she could go over it 10 times, but 4-6 times would just defrizz and loosen the curls and 10 times would straighten it more, which I didn't want.

In the end, my hair looked extremely straight and sleek and I have never in my life had my hair this straight and shiny. They were right about the color. It never looked better and we didn't have to color it at all. It was a miracle! I knew it wasn't the end result as I had to actually wash it to see what it would look like after, but I knew that if I had shine in my hair without her even using serum, it was a good sign that it was going to look pretty darn fabuloso. They also recommended I use their J Beverly Hills "Rescue" Shampoo which puts protein and shine in your hair and their Masque conditioner to keep it softer and stronger. I figured if I'm going to spend money on a big treatment like this, I'm going to want to follow their regimen to keep my hair healthy for as long as I can.

Three days later, I finally washed my hair, (Don't judge me, I wanted to have it this straight as long as possible). Well, I think I know why they call it a "Brazilian" treatment...because it leaves you with Brazilian model looking hair! No, I'm not kidding. I washed it at night and let it air dry so I can do it in the morning, and normally when I do that, I'll wake up with a frizzy fro and curls with a mind of their own, which I have to tame with mousse and curl creme. Definitely not the case this wonderful morning as I woke up with my hair frizz-free and beach-wavy looking hair. I won't lie, it did scare me at first as my hair didn't have as many curls as before and had less volume, so I'll probably miss my wild hair a tad, but I feel like I finally tamed the wild beast and my hair is incredibly softer and manageable. My co-workers keep complimenting me on it and I've never been so happy with my hair! It was so easy to style this morning as it looked already done. I put some leave-in conditioner and was ready to go!

Point of the story, if you have dry, brittle, frizzy, unruly hair and want soft, tamed hair, get a Pure Brazilian treatment. Yay for healthy, gorgeous hair!

P.S. I will post a pic soon of the end results :)

Tobi Shopaholic!

Hey Ladies!

I wanted to let you know about this little gem that I found through a friend a couple months ago called Tobi.com. It's an online women's fashion site and it has the most ADORABLE clothes and is one of the main reasons for breaking my bank account. I've always been a shopaholic but now I think it might be a real addiction...Do they make pills for that? :P

I've already purchased through them four times in the past two months. That to me is a lot. Their clothes are similar to Forever21 and Lulu's, but just about every item is feminine and sexy and not hipster. They're just a tad pricier than Forever21's clothing, but I think the quality is better. Aside from having super cute clothes, they also have really good customer service and I mean REALLY good. Anytime I've had a question about an exchange or a specific item they respond to me via email really quickly and they've always had a good answer. Their items also ship and deliver quickly and their shipping is FREE and even returns are FREE! Can you say shopping heaven?! Another great thing about them is that they always have deals going on. When you're a member, they send emails daily on new items and those new items will be 30% off for up to 7 days. They also occasionally have 50% off on the entire site and they've been having 40% off on everything through the end of December as a holiday special. The code is DECEMBER40. Yes, I took advantage of that discount...twice. However, NOW they're having 50% off till 11:59pm PST December 26th! I realize that's just today, but take advantage of that discount and get your shopping on! The code is MERRYXMAS50.

Do not fear if you miss the deadline! If you sign up here with your Facebook account you can get 50% off your first order and help me get 50% off my next order as well, and when you share with your friends, they can help you get another 50% off your next order. I call it the friendly shopping cycle. :)

Also, keep in mind that most items sell out pretty quickly. I recently had a gorgeous dress in my shopping bag, and when I was going to check out, the item was no longer available and now I check regularly for it to come back. Don't let it happen to you!

The dress I'm wearing below is called the Mackenzie Midi Dress. It hugged all the right curves without showing bulges and got me a lot of compliments the night I wore it to a 1920's themed holiday party.

The Miracle Prayer

Christmas is a time to celebrate family, life, the act of giving, and the birth of Jesus Christ, for actual believers that is. It's also a time to get cozy, watch silly holiday movies, cut down a Christmas tree, and spend money on crazy amounts of gifts and light decorations. I love all of those things, minus breaking the bank, but I think we forget one thing about Christmas, which is the gift of miracles. Since I was little I've known of this Catholic prayer called "The Christmas Novena" or as I like to call it, "The Miracle Prayer." It is piously believed that if one prays it starting the feast of St. Andrew, November 30th, until Christmas day 15 times a day they will obtain what is asked in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ.

"Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen"

It's hard to believe your wishes will come true just by repeating a poem everyday around Christmas time. I've done it before and as cheesy as this may sound, the last time I devoted to this Novena which was 2011, I asked that my soul mate would come my way and for me to no longer be hurt. Well, that Christmas Eve, God introduced me to my soul mate in the most interesting way and let me part ways with what wasn't right for me. I didn't even realize I had been praying for that to happen and that it came true until almost a year later when it was almost time to start reciting the prayer again. Call it a coincidence or whatever you'd like, but I like to believe it was meant to be and the Lord really can grant you what your heart desires, if it's for the good of course. It won't hurt if you try it. Just have faith, believe, and let the miracles shine. :)

Happy Holidays & God Bless!

Cancer - Things To Know

On behalf of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I'd like to dedicate this article to my Tia Sãozinha, Vovó Dulce, and my good friend Amy Hoff, as well as anyone else that has struggled with cancer or is currently battling cancer.

In the past several months, I've been doing research on causes of cancer and natural ways to treat it. I prefer natural remedies for just about anything, because it's the safest form of treatment and I believe nature's medicine was put on this Earth to use when needed, not waste thousands of dollars on. My curiosity began when I found out a family member was diagnosed with lung cancer after being on complete remission of uterine cancer. She told me it started when doctors prescribed post-menopause hormonal pills and years later, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, so I started digging for information.

According to the Susan G. Komen website & Women's Health Initiative (WHI), Menopause Hormonal Therapy can put women at a higher risk for breast and uterine cancer. WHI conducted two trials using Estrogen Therapy (ET) and Estrogen-Progestin Therapy (EPT). One study showed that about 1 in 9 women treated with ET for 3 years developed a type of pre-cancerous change in their endometrium (lining of the uterus) called atypical hyperplasia. Women treated with EPT didn't experience this change any more than women not taking any hormones. However, the women taking EPT had a higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with those who did not take hormones. Basically, if 10,000 women took EPT for a year, this would add up to about 8 more cases of breast cancer per year than if they had not taken hormone therapy. The longer hormone therapy is being used, the greater the risk becomes, which could result in needing chemotherapy treatments. 

Most patients diagnosed with cancer have to go through chemotherapy, which is a potent treatment for cancer that kills not only bad cells, but good cells as well, weakening the body's immune system. Chemo tends to leave a metallic taste in people's mouths as well as painful sores making it hard for them to eat. In addition to that, doctors will prescribe pain killers for patients that have cancer pain, often causing nausea, affecting their appetite even more, and resulting in immense weight loss. Yes, chemotherapy has helped many people treat and fight cancer, but what if I told you that there is a natural, cheap way to help speed up the process of chemotherapy, kill the bad cells and not the good ones, but actually stimulate healthy cell growth along with strengthening the body's immune system? Sounds too good to be true right? Well, I have great news for you. 

There's a fruit called Soursop that people have consumed for numerous years to fight illnesses, mainly including cancer, and has worked wonders. Other popular names for it are Guanabana, Graviola, Annona, and Coração de Negro. It's a green, hard shelled fruit with white pulp on the inside grown in almost any tropical or hot climate areas. After finding out about this gem through a friend, I googled 'Guanabana.' Every website listed was linked to stories about people that have treated cancer using this natural miracle and have prolonged their lifespan up to 12-20 years when doctors doubtfully told them they wouldn't live more than just a few months. Studies starting in 1976 by the National Cancer Institute and in recent years at Purdue University, show that the key components of the tree, substances known as annonaceous acetogenins, are found to be potent inhibitors of cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. I asked a doctor about taking this fruit for cancer and he kept avoiding the question and said, "anything cancer patients take have to be reported to their doctors." Doctors won't make any funding out of this because it comes from Mother Nature. Not only is this fruit good to treat cancer, it strengthens the immune system, boosts energy levels, lowers blood pressure, regulates the digestive system, gets rid of infections, helps with skin disorders, and heals body aches and pains. It's the ultimate healer! Its main nutrients are Calcium, Folate, Iron, Potassium, Sodium, Vitamin B and C. Most of the nutrients are in the tea leaves, so I ordered them on Amazon.com, as well as Graviola capsules and tried it myself. The tea already has a nice, natural sweet flavor so I didn't need to add any honey like I usually do with other tea flavors. The capsules along with the tea have helped me have more energy in the mornings and a better mood throughout the day. I also hardly have any stomach pain and I've dealt with stomach issues my entire life.I don't have cancer, but if it can help prevent cancer and boost my immune system, along with overall health, then I'm going to say yes to taking soursop. Please note, it is not recommended for people with Parkinson's disease and neurodegenerative disorders. 

I'm not saying this should be taken instead of having chemotherapy treatments, but I do recommend taking it to assist with the progress of chemo as it can be very beneficial, as well as taking it for better overall health. Above all, remember to eat healthy, stay active, perform monthly breast self-exams, and get annual check ups. Check for cancer, don't let it check you! For questions or more information on breast cancer, or if you'd like to donate to the Susan G. Komen foundation, visit www.komen.org. 

An Old Poem Using Maroon 5's Song Titles

I've always been a huge fan of Maroon 5 or perhaps just Adam Levine and his sexy voice, but one day I randomly decided to write a blog post during MySpace days using their song titles. All the words in caps lock are obviously the song titles. It wasn't about anyone specific, just thought it would be interesting to do...


I had a WAKE UP CALL on SUNDAY MORNING and it kind of MAKES ME WONDER about THIS LOVE that I CAN'T STOP. I can't decide if it MUST GET OUT or if it should be a SECRET but I want you...so bad. It makes it HARDER TO BREATHE every time I hear your calming yet arousing music play with that sweet sexy voice that sends SHIVER up my spine. I'm TANGLED in this dream where this girl thinks SHE WILL BE LOVED, and right before I wake up from THE SUN beaming through my window, we have THE SWEETEST GOODBYE, and I realize you're NOT COMING HOME to me. So IF I NEVER SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN, I won't mind, because knowing I had a LITTLE OF YOUR TIME, is like eating a KIWI, sweet start but bitter when it's done. So just as long as there's some sweetness to this, it's okay, because I know NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. - By Jessica Mendes

Written on November 26, 2008

America: Land of the Greed

        The news has been nothing but beyond awful these past few weeks, and I mean more than usual, but I'm sure you've already noticed that so I probably sound like Captain Obvious. It's just so saddening that we never hear about anything good, or perhaps it's just because people are drawn to the bad news more, but lately the world seems so depressing and neurotic that it makes me wonder "what if this is really the beginning of the end?" Before you start calling me crazy, I was never one to think the world would end. I was always the one laughing at the people that thought the world would end in the year 2000 or when the Mayans claimed the world would end in December of 2012 or other so called Christians that said the world was ending in various different dates, but I recently started reading the Book of Revelation in the Bible and I'm really not surprised if we're headed in that direction the way the world is turning and with the signs in the Book, but for now I'll say it's not ending just getting pretty bad.
          From the Boston bombing that killed several young people and injured so many and left some without limbs they used to dance professionally with or run in marathons to raise money for charity, to multiple apartment complex fires in one day, to another case of a psychotic woman that killed her boyfriend in multiple ways that when I visualize it, I can't help but almost gag, to a 9-year old Autistic girl that went missing for only a few days near her family's vacation home and her body being found dead by Cache Creek, to another little girl getting killed for crossing the street with her aunt after school because someone drove too fast and hit her. A really good major thing that has happened recently was finding the three girls in Ohio that have been missing for a decade, but just the thought of that is also painful, because they'll probably be traumatized for the rest of their lives, because of the agony they went through during those 10 years with an awful man. 

        In San Jose, where I live, things have gotten even worse and just full of crimes recently. However, it's supposed to be one of the safest big cities in America. People would always say East San Jose is ghetto, but that was just because of thug wannabes, graffiti, prostitutes, the way people and buildings looked, etc. It never really had a huge crime rate, but it's now getting to the point where people are scared to go out, because of horrific situations such as a shooting in our own Safeway, or another shooting that happened between two cousins, and just yesterday a mentally ill man became a suspect for stabbing three family members, two of which are dead, his 40-year old mother and his 1-year old baby nephew. A 3 year old girl is in the hospital in critical condition because of it. Luckily, they captured the suspect, but it won't bring their lives back, and we don't really know for sure yet if he actually did it. This makes many people angry and afraid, but the only thing I want to know is what makes people crazy enough to do any of this? How can someone actually WANT to pick up a weapon and kill someone when it's not in the least bit of self defense? Is it built up frustration and anger or lack of patience, or is it greed and the way the economy is that drives people mad, or is it because they're mentally ill? It seems like mental illness has been the so called root of crimes lately. Even worse, how can someone kill their own family members? 

        I strongly believe many of those people have forgotten the meaning of family and friendship. Mexicans are against other Mexicans, blacks are against other black people, Asians and Italians have mafias, South Americans are killing because of drug trades, the Middle East is...well, the Middle East. Basically, it's a never ending cycle of hate and crime, and a lot of it has to do with money and selfishness. It's a fight to be on top instead of living equally in unity with love and compassion and instead of fighting for one another and defending their people, they fight against their own kind. If that's not a sign of the world ending or turning into a major disaster of greed and a cry for help then I don't know what is. Where is the love? Where did the days go when kids could go outside in the street and play? Now they just stay home and play on their gadgets and get hooked on phone and computer screens and bully each other in schools to the point where so many people commit suicides. What about the days when neighbors would visit each other periodically just to say hello and bring over food or when people would pass by each other on the street and smile or say hello just because it's the courteous thing to do. Now, people judge one another based on their looks, religion, culture, whether they're too fat, too skinny, what their job is, who they're with, what they do, because society has built this image everyone is "supposed to have" and if we don't have it, it drives us crazy, because we can't have what we think we're supposed to have and we become selfish and angry with ourselves and the world for making us think we have to be a certain way. 

        America is supposed to be the land of the free, but people take advantage of the word "free" and think it's okay to kill people or it's okay to cuss people out on the road, or it's okay to do drugs and do nothing with your life, all because it's a "free" country. That's not the meaning of a country with freedom. Our country is supposed to be free, because we earned it, free, because our troops fight for that freedom, free, because our country was once a country filled with loving people that stood up for one another and stuck together through thick and thin, free, because our ancestors came here to make a living to better their lives. The more we take advantage of something, the more it gets taken away from us and that's why our world has become so sickening and full of greed, because we take advantage of the word "free" and think it's okay to be cruel and have that careless mentality. Well, I always say "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar" and "you always get in return what you give out" so ask yourselves this: Is there a reason to have hate in your heart, be cruel to others, fight your own kind, or be angry and hold grudges? Your response should be "No." If yes, then perhaps reconsider your thought process and ask if your reasons for that are worth it. Life is what you make it and for the most part it can be wonderful if we surround ourselves with good people and do good things, so let's turn America back into the true country of freedom and help each other and other nations to become the best they can be as well. The only way you can do that is to start with yourself.

God bless and thanks for reading. :)

Remembering Kevin James Caetano 4/7/1984 - 7/17/2006

  *This may be a sensitive subject to some people as it is about the loss of a loved one that many of us knew, which is why I got permission from his brother, Kris, to write about it. 

 
     A couple weeks ago, a person named Kevin James Caetano, whom we lost almost 7 years ago was popping into my head almost daily at random times. It was never because one thought led to him..he'd just sort of show up. Perhaps it's because his birthday is coming up soon, but when this kind of thing happens, I usually feel like that person is trying to stop by and say hello or tell me something, but then again, I thought that only happened in dreams. Anyway, these thoughts about Kevin have been arising more and more, and recently, I woke up in the middle of the night somewhat half asleep, and I started thinking about him again, how we lost such a young, beautiful soul and of course it led me to the thought of the day we had to say good-bye, his rosary, the funeral, and how even though we lost someone we loved and it was a sad time for us, after the funeral we all had fun at his family's house sharing memories about Kevin, laughing about the good times, having water fights, because it was an extremely hot day in the middle of July, and it's what Kevin would've wanted us to do. But then I had a flash back about his mother from that day. This whole thing was like a movie playing in my head. I could see in his mother's face that losing him was like losing a big piece of her own soul. I started remembering her tears, her cries for him, her agony, and then I envisioned me telling her, "It's okay. His soul is within your heart. He's still here." I have no idea why. I didn't actually tell her that at the time, but the vision was so clear that it felt like I did. Perhaps it's what Kevin wants her to know? I'm not sure, but I always think there's a meaning behind everything, especially thoughts that come to us that are out of our control.
     I got to know Kevin better during my high school years, because of his brother, going to school dances, and being involved in the Portuguese community...I remember calling him "Kevy Pooh" while he would play football just to tease him in front of his teammates, but I think he actually liked the name. :) I'll never forget during the time people would call me Mufasa because of my big hair and one time, while we were playing music in Gustine, my hair was out of control and I told him I couldn't calm my fly aways and he referenced the movie Friday and said in his best ghetto voice that he could, "You betta put some water in that daaamn shit!" It was too funny, but you probably had to be there. Those are just a couple of many memories I have of him. When I think of Kevin James, I remember him as the kindest, most sincere, trusting, protective, and humble person I had ever known. He was like a big bear, tough on the outside, but warm and fuzzy on the inside and you can't help but want to squeeze him and smile around him. His smile was so contagious, like of a child's, so big and precious, and even his bright blue eyes would smile. We all say the good ones die young and yes, it's true. People tend to get mad at God and ask why He would let that happen, but I think I understand why now. I believe it's because God takes those that have completed their good deeds and He wants his angels back. I can't imagine why else, because to me, Kevin was an angel on Earth. That's why I always have his memorial card in my car, to protect me. He never did any wrong to anyone. He always protected and defended his friends & family to the fullest. He never judged anyone. All he had was light and love in his big heart. I strongly believe Kevin James was here to be an angel on Earth, to be a good example, and God saw he did his part and took him back to be with the rest of the angels up above. It's always sad to lose the ones we really love, but what we have to remember is that they're in a better place and even though we can't see, hear, or touch them, they can still see & hear us and touch our hearts, but someday we will be with them again enjoying the good life in Heaven. Rest in peace, blue eyed angel. Cheers to your birthday coming up and for being a prime example of how a person should be. Love you, Kevin James. :)