KitchenChemist: Avocado Hair Mask

Today I set aside some time to wash my hair. It really has be suffering lately and I needed to do something extra. So, I made an avocado hair mask and my hair is so soft and shiny now.

Avocado is rich in fatty acids and Vitamins A,C,& E. They are inexpensive and whatever you don't use on your hair you can always eat. (I love guacamole)

It's simple to make and you can change or add ingredients based on your preference.

Here is a simple recipe

1 Ripe Avocado
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Honey
1 egg

Blend this mixture together and apply to dry hair. Then leave it on your hair for 20-30 minutes. After that just rinse and follow up with shampoo and conditioner. Because this mixture has eggs (great source of protein) I don't recommend using heat,( you'll end up with scrambled eggs) however you can always omit the egg and do a deep condition under the dryer with the other ingredients.

Trust me your hair & scalp will love you!!!

I have been a busy Sistah!

Hello Ladies,

It has been a while since I have updated, but I have been so busy!

My semester ended about 6 weeks ago and I'm proud to say I got a 3.66 grade point average for this semester. It was tough but I thank God I made it through.

Last month the "My Black is Beautiful" toured rolled into Chicago and I was busy enhancing the faces of the beautiful sistahs that sat in my chair for the CoverGirl Queen collection. Not only did I do makeup but I was asked to teach a Beauty 101 workshop for the ladies at the event and I had a great time.
I signed with a new agent in Chicago to do commercials and voice overs and I had to get new head shots, so I was able to get some great shots thanks to Victoria of Sprung Photo.
I had a chance to travel to Milwaukee for the "Change" conference hosted by Dr. Creflo & Taffi Dollar and trust me, I needed to hear what he had to say!
And now I'm planning a pamper event sponsored by Liquid Lounge (my bath & body line) and Pamper Lounge Events. Now this has been taking all of my time lately!
I do miss blogging, but it feels good to see the accomplishments I have made over these past 6 weeks!

When you get a chance send me an e-mail (the_savvy_sistah@hotmail.com) and let me know what you've been up to!

Until next time,

Stay Savvy!

Michelle Obama: She is a "great beauty"

I was reading on Yahoo! News about a comment in Parade Magazines Sunday issue that supermodel/entrepreneur Iman made about First Lady Michelle Obama and I just had to think about it for a minute.

According to the article she said that First Lady Michelle Obama is not a "great beauty," but will "just get better with age"."But she is so interesting looking and so bright. That will always take you farther. When you're a great beauty, it's always downhill for you. If you're someone like Mrs Obama, you just get better with age,".

She also said, "You suddenly represent a whole race, and that race goes, Well, that person does not represent our ideals of beauty. For lack of a better term, it becomes what it was like during slavery,".

Now I understand that Iman is an exotic beauty and at times she is not put in the same category as some African American women, but I have to wonder if she considers herself a "great beauty". If you compared her to Halle Berry or Vanessa Williams is she a "great beauty". Or what about Oprah Winfrey and Jill Scott.

I really think that maybe Iman thought she was paying our First Lady a compliment, but it had too many "undertones" to me.

I don't want to jump to conclusions but who is she comparing Michelle Obama to( herself) It's funny that People Magazine can name her on the top "100 Most Beautiful" list. Glamour Magazine can name her #3 on their "50 Most Glamorous Women of 2009" list and she even made it on Maxim magazines list of "100 hottest Women in the World list".

Evidently the "great beauty" that Iman is use to has changed. And we need that!

Savvy Charity's: The Fresh Air Fund

Savvy Sistahs if you are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the life of a young person in your community this year than you should consider contacting someone from the Fresh Air Fund. Honestly I never heard of this charity until I received a heartfelt e-mail from Sara Wilson, who happens to be the Outreach Coordinator.

According to their website at Freshair.org THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

I remember when my sisters and I were little girls and we lived in a housing project in Michigan. Every summer my aunt would let us spend time with her in Chicago so we could see a different view of what life had to offer. We would go to the park, shopping on Michigan ave, walking on the beach and to the museums. The environment was like night and day. However, those experiences we shared with her opened up our eyes to the unlimited opportunities available to us and it kept us out of trouble.

Have you ever been in that place in life when you just needed some "Fresh Air"? Well that's exactly what many of the children who participate in this program are looking for everyday. There are many ways you can help beginning with your generous donation to help send a child to camp to becoming a host family.



If you would like information on how you can help visit www.freshair.org

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Savvy Sistahs! Enjoy your special day!

Savvy Events:Dangerous Curves Ahead

If you're looking for somewhere to go this weekend then I would like to recommend that you stop by the “Dangerous Curves Ahead” Spring Charity Fashion Show & Women’s Expo.

This Savvy Event was created by Chicago based wardrobe consultant and Savvy Sistah Tamika Maria Martell of A-line Style services. When I asked her recently what inspired her to create this fashion event she said " I wanted to have a "coming out" party to introduce myself and my services to Chicago area women. I also think it is so important to make it an all sizes event to display that beautiful and confident women come in all shapes, sizes, and ethnicity's! Too many fashion events only have the stick thin models and that is just not the majority. I wanted to make my event about real women and the empowerment of us as a whole.
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Tamika has really been working non-stop to get the word out about this event and she was recently featured on the Style Profile segment on NBC channel 5 and Alpha Women’s Blog Talk Radio Show (www.alphawomen.com).

Dangerous Curves Ahead , will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 7pm-10pm at the Zhou B Art Center located at 1029 W. 35th St. Chicago, IL 60609. Individual tickets are $20 in advance and $25.00 at the door.(group rates are available)

Dangerous Curves Ahead attendees will enjoy complimentary food, drinks and beauty services while shopping with over 20 confirmed vendors, listening to the soothing sounds of V103 DJ Sundance, and enjoying the inspiring surroundings & art from the Zhou B Art Center. And the first 500 guest will receive a goody bag valued at over $100.00

When I asked Tamika what her future plans were for this event, she said,
"I have received so much positive feedback from this event and plan to make it an annual event, possibly on a national level as well".

For more information or to purchase tickets: click the link

Savvy Sistahpreneur: Brandy Adamson/ Alive Inc!

Today I had the opportunity to interview the CEO/Editor of Alive Magazine, Brandy Adamson.She is very knowledgeable of the business industry and she has a deep passion to see women of color succeed. After I got off the phone with her I was so inspired, I started thinking of new ways I could challenge myself to accomplish some of my goals while getting the word out about my business.

Brandy Adamson has entrepreneurship in her blood, and growing up she was able to watch her grandparents and parents start their own businesses. When she was younger people asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, but she didn't say a doctor, fireman, or teacher like the other kids, she said, "I want to be the boss".

Her professional career began in the male dominated oil & gas industry over 12 years ago. And after learning how to play the "corporate game", she wanted to find an avenue to connect with other women of color and share some of the valuable tools she learned on her way up the corporate ladder. Alive Incorporated was birthed out of her desire to assist individuals and businesses by offering services in the areas of coaching, administrative services, brand management, business development and consultation.

Almost three years ago she expanded her vision and launched Alive Magazine (www.alivemagonline.com) to serve as a tool to "empower, inspire and connect with women of color from all walks off life. She is now working on bringing her lifestyle magazine,(it started off as a 12 page business magazine) to a newsstand near you as early as 2010.

She left me with many encouraging words to pass on to my readers and I'm sure that you will be able to apply these to your life in some way.

Her view on networking sites: There is power in networking. There are many social networking sites around today like Facebook, LinkedIn, Ning, and MySpace and you really have to determine your purpose for being on these social sites. Some people are just looking for friends, some are looking for business contacts and some are looking for a job. You have to know what your purpose is.

On sharing your dreams with everyone:
Be aware of who you share your dreams with, because everyone is not deserving.

Words of encouragement to other Savvy Sistahs: You have to be patient and use the resources available to you. And more than anything, don't take no for an answer.


Brandy is a great mentor, role model and a Savvy Sistahpreneur!
For more information on Alive Magazine: click the link!



Alive Magazine has recently been nominated by the AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club)for the "Magazine of the Year". The winner will be chosen in June at the AAMBC National Meeting in San Antonio. Brandy is also conducting a workshop titled "Branding Yourself, Promoting Your Works" at the conference.

On the Cover: First Lady Michelle Obama & Mom

First Lady Michelle and her beautiful mother Marian Robinson,will grace the May cover of Essence magazine for the Mother's Day issue.I love seeing these two together, because they remind me alot of my mother. It's good to see a good example of generations coming together and expressing mutual respect and love for one another.


For more information: click the link



Photos:Timothy White/Stockland Martel