I apologize for the ultra slow post between Sex in the City festivities and my family coming to visit, I've been on cloud nine. In honor of our favorite girls from New York a few ladies and I came together to watch the first movie then flowed up with a spa day, lunch, happy hour drinks and, of course, Sex in the City 2. However my parents came in town before I made it to the movies with them. So I've yet to see it...

As I'm decompressing from all the weekend's joy I would like to extend a special thank you to all the men and women that have put their lives on the line for our country. While I can't say much about this eight year war, I can say thank you for your efforts. May God bless you and your families. For those that have loved ones that didn't make it back from war alive, America is undoubtedly thankful that they sacrificed their life for us.

May God bless them too.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I'm obsessed with wooden soles so wedges and clogs are some of my favorite shoes to buy. I've got my eye on the chocolate brown DVF platform wedges below.

Thandie Newton is showing some real personality with this outfit. I love how she choose the often forgoten about color yellow and pair it with a style of shoe that typically isn't seen on the 'red carpet'. Loves it.

For all you want-to-be sushi lovers the best way to stomach sushi without having to deal with all the extra forgein-ess: Get it with cooked fish (given) and request soy paper. I have found that seaweed paper to be chewy at times and difficult to bite in to. The soy paper has no flavor and tends to disappear into the mix of flavors.

I’m finding that there are quite a few ladies that are forgoing chemical strengtheners and embracing their natural hair. Reasons range from a quest for healthier hair to saving money. I chose to leave the relaxers alone because I was developing an extreme case of dry and itchy scalp that was more painful than uncomfortable. I started out taking a break and wound up embracing a new lifestyle. Learning to care for your natural hair can be quite frustrating but view it as a journey to a new you. There will be times you will feel like running back to the creamy crack but chalk it up because the end result is unbelievably freeing and rewarding. I did my Big Chop (cut off relaxed ends) after a year of transitioning. Here are a few things I learned along the way.

Transitioners: you are growing your relaxer out. Your hair has a distinct line where the natural hair meets the relaxed hair, the line of demarcation. This line is extremely fragile and should be treated as such.

Recommended care routine: get in the habit of adding moisture to your hair, when you do the big chop this will be essential. Skip the shampoo and wash your hair with conditioner about once a week, deep condition often and use a sulfate free shampoo once every two weeks.

Recommended styles: Any style that minimized combing is best since combing stresses the line of demarcation. Flexi-rod set, braids, twist, bun, and even a wash ‘n go if you have a medium curl pattern. After your new growth gets more than and inch or two long I wouldn’t recommend flat ironing in an effort to blend hair, you’ll find yourself doing it too often.

Products I relied on during my transition. These are not the same products I am currently using.

Brushes & Combs by Sally Beauty
Blow Dryers & Irons by Ion

I wonder if in about 4 years or 5 years if my hair will look like this? Leela James is a girl with SERIOUS curls.

A couple of nights ago I washed and deep conditioned my hair then decided that I wanted to wear it straight. Avoiding using too much heat I blow dried (skipped the Fhi iron) my hair until smooth using the one with a comb attachment then did a basic set using the purple flexie rods. After tossing a turning all night due to how tight I did my rollers I was pleased to see the smooth, bouncy curls I unraveled in the morning. It was so big and full, felt like I was channeling Dianne Carol as I left for work. And then it hit me, It's humid as HELL out here and it's about to rain!

The #1 rule to straightening natural hair is: pay attention to the weather!! No matter how much product you use, mother nature will win. This is what happens when you don't take in o account your three block walk from the car to your job:





Hot....





MESS!

Yes, this is how I looked when I got home from work. No, I did not exaggerate my hair for this picture. No, I had a big meeting that day so I could not stay in my cube all day and Yes, I know it wouldn't look so bad with just a headband instead of two bobby pins and a clip from the bottom of my purse.

Lesson Learned! oh and excuse the bathroom, I'm getting rid of the wallpaper this weekend, yuck.

Cory Dade for the Wall Street Journal did a story about the take over of Dominican salons. The Dominican blow out has been the talk for some time now as an alternative to getting hair super straight without relying on chemicals. Many people I know swear by them and believe that it is healthier because you can sport freshly straightened roots and hair week to week and not worry about over processing your hair. In my opinion too much of anything on your hair is bad whether it is relaxer or heat. Dade writes:

Delshawn Rollins once trusted only fellow African-Americans with the delicate task of styling and straightening her tightly curled brown hair.

But that meant enduring hours of salon gossip, ordered-in lunch (and sometimes dinner, too) and occasional mishaps, like the time the ends of her hair snapped off after she had it dyed.

Fed up, the 35-year-old respiratory therapist last fall pulled out a flier she had for a new salon that promised to "work magic" using "Dominican styling." She was in and out of The Hair Co. USA, which displays the Dominican flag in the front window, within two hours, sporting a straight, feathery "do" for $20 less than she had been paying her old stylist.

I can absolutely relate to Ms. Rollins. I hated sitting in a salon for hours only to be about a pound lighter in the wallet when I left. When relaxed, I pretty much stuck with a basic roller wrap because I was never a big proponent of using direct heat on my hair. Which is one of the reasons I've never tried the Dominican Blow out. Cory Dade's assessment delves little further in not only the blow out's effects on your hair but the effects on the beauty industry as a whole.

For all of you who love the W hotel and it's funky cool vibe, they have dove head first into the bedding, homedecor and even fashion industy. The hotel brand has an online shop that features a variety of popular products that scream 'W hotel'.

Click below to view thier entire line.

A few of the lucite pieces they carry which I would love to incoporate a (and only one)piece into my home's decor. I think it will go with my ecletic chic decor without being to modern and harsh. Unless you are going for the ultra modern hard line look, a little goes a long way, besides this stuff is NOT cheap. Each of these products range from $300 to about $410.

The L.A.M.B Dawna platform slingback features a zebra print and zipper trim. It retails for about $325. So do we love it or hate it?

This page was inspired by the post I did on O magazine's 10th anniversary. We are looking for people that have found their passions and have dedicated their lives to pursuing them. People that are fearlessly following their dreams and impacting lives in the process. Viva Laverne believes these people deserve to be highlighted as a way to encourage us all to do the same. Do you know someone that deserves the spotlight?

Nominate them by sending an email to vivalaverne@yahoo.com. Please include a brief summary of where their passions lie, what prompted them to follow their dreams, and anything else they would like to share including a picture or logo.

Lena Horne (1917-2010) was one of the most captivating women ever. She had beauty and guts that catapulted her into not only into black history but women's history. Throughout her career she has broken many racial and gender barriers and has received countless awards for doing so. I remember seeing her on TV as a kids and being totally in awe. I choose this clip of her on Sesame Street because this is how I remember her.

One of the worlds richest men, Warren Buffet is widely know for his modest principles and honet values. He as long taught that the values you hold determines your wealth. I read an article about his son and here are two of Peter Buffet's quotes that struck a chord.

"I am my own person and I know what I have accomplished in my life," says Peter Buffet, Warren's 52 year old son. "This isn't about wealth or fame or money or any of that stuff, it is actually about values and what you enjoy and finding something you love doing."

Peter Buffet who teaches the rewards of self-respect and pursuing one's own passions and accomplishments rather than buying into society's concepts of material wealth goes on to say:

"Entitlement is the worst thing ever and I see entitlement coming in many guises," he said. "Anybody who acts like they deserve something 'just because,', is a disaster."

Boy, boy, boy those Buffets are on to something... Read the entire interview here.

Thought I'd share a few products I'm loving right now...

1. Pure Coconut Oil is a light oil often used for cooking. I love this after a shower on my elbows and knees. It's also great for a mid-day spruce up for my curls. Along with it's delicious smell it's hailed has the best dry scalp treatment money can buy.

2. OK, so I'm not 100% on Carol's Daughter products but i do like the hair smoothie conditioner. It's great for deep conditioning and has a great smell that last with you all day.

3. While my husband and I were browsing through LUSH getting sold on every product by the 'world's best' salesman we found Flying Fox body wash. Neither of us are big on fragrances in soaps and detergent but this one won us over. It smells like pure honeysuckles, yet not too floral, and works on both men and women. Love, Love, Love the scent and the second hand aromatherapy I get when my hubby uses it.

Viva Laverne would like to wish all of you mothers a wonderful day. Whether you are a mom of many children or of none, a stepmother or grandmother, a godmother or even an aunt it's through your selfless giving of love to a child that makes us celebrate you today. So kick back relax and be pampered or pamper yourself, you deserve it.

Post are going to be slow for the next couple of days since I'm traveling for work. I've come to love fiction stories that take place is distant lands especially if it's about redepmtion or following your dreams! I'm all over it. While in the airport gearing up for my 4 hour flight to Portland, I picked up a book to read. I'd heard this book mentioned on book lists a couple of times but never really paid much attention to it mainly because I could barely pronounce the title. The Alchemist is a compelling story about flowing your heart, realizing your dreams, and recognizing your Personal Legend. It's chock full of great quotes that I will be shamelessly stealing and posting for you all to enjoy. I'm only half way through it and it is already on the top of my 'must read' list. First up in the series of great Alchemist quotes: