‘A Letter to My Mother…’: Why Writing it May Save Your Most Precious Relationship.

So far, I LOVE the cover! Can’t wait to check it out!

The Diary of a Natural Gal

I just love my friends. No, I LOVE my friends! Along with my family, they are the glue that holds me together. So when one of my dearest friends, Charmaine, approached me with the idea to write a letter to my mother that would accompany other letters in a book, I didn’t think twice. She is one of my favorite people with whom I’ve shared so many intimate details of my life. Witty, smart, and compassionate, Charmaine is the quintessential woman; she’s a dreamer that knows about making her dreams come true. 

‘A Letter to My Mother: Letters from Daughters Full of Love, Hope, Despair, Regret, and Forgiveness’ is just  of Charmaine’s dreams that has come to fruition. Birthed during her care for her own mother, this book opens the door for women to examine, or re-examine, their relationships with their mothers. And I’m blessed in knowing that when this…

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I spoke about this thing from a similar angle not long ago in “The New Bougie”!

Great read!

The Diary of a Natural Gal

The topic at hand has been on my mind for quite some time…

I’ve attended a number of natural hair related events (most of them in London). These events had an amazing atmosphere overall, but I couldn’t help but notice the clear divide at some of these events; non-bloggers remained together and all of the bloggers remained together.

Of course I can’t fault people for staying with their friends or with others that are more ‘accessible’ (yes, accessible because I have seen bloggers get together like a clique and it can be quite intimidating), but the divide was clear.

I have met bloggers who were really friendly and approachable, but then I have also met some who were kind of stand-offish or who gave off an ‘holier than thou’ vibe.

At the time it really bothered me. How can you blog and have so many supportive followers but be so antisocial? Then I…

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Straight Juicin’ – FAQs

Soooo…I have recently added solid food back into my diet due to the cost of feeding myself three times a day on produce AND still feeding Mr. Brewton. I have decided to continue keeping it light when I do eat (minimal meat, if any) and LOTS of fruit and veggies. I am maintaining my juices for dinner and some breakfasts.

I initially chose to do a full juice fast, cutting out all solid foods, in an attempt to give my digestive tract a rest and to take the time to pay attention to my body and take note of how different foods effected my body. For example, I am the type of person who suffers from sinus issues year round. Every. Single. Morning. I’m hacking up phlegm and fighting post nasal drip for the first two hours of my day. On the fifth morning of my  juice fast, I noticed that there was no phlegm in my head or chest. Even after getting out of the shower, when everything really gets to moving, I experienced no drainage whatsoever.

Now that I’ve began adding meat and other foods back to my diet, I’ve found that I’m back in the throngs of my sinus struggle. Now, to just take note of what exactly is causing the problem (I haven’t had any dairy or soy so, that’s not it although I know that dairy products are a leading culprit in such reactions).

Moving on…

I had taken a video answering all the questions I’ve been receiving about my juicing experience but, my technology life is a struggle so…

Here you go! Feel free to post more questions here in the comment section and I’ll do my best to answer them or find you the answers you need!

Why juice? Why not just eat the vegetables/fruit?
Think of all the nutrients you’d get eating three pounds of fruit and vegetables. You can’t imagine eating that much green stuff in one sitting, right? (I know I couldn’t) Now, imagine getting those same nutrients by drinking 16-24 ounces of juice created from the same three pounds of produce! It WORKS!

Are you hungry or tired while you juice?
Not at all! I was amazingly energetic and was never hungry! I would generally have 16-32oz of juice in the mornings, 16oz for lunch and another 16oz as a snack in the late afternoon and maybe 16oz for dinner. Normally by the time I got home in the evenings, I wasn’t hungry!

In addition to the juice, I would drink hot Yogi’s Ginger or Healthy Fasting Tea. I also keep a 20oz bottle with me for consuming water regularly. I maintained a tally of how many bottles I drank throughout the day drinking no less than six 20oz bottles (1 gallon).

Can you workout while you’re doing a juice fast?
You can workout while juicing but be certain you’re listening to your body (especially women during your cycles). ***Remember***DRINK PLENTY OF WATER***

What type of juicer do you use? 
I use the Breville Fountain Compact. It’s 700watts and although it’s not the “best” juicer out there, it’s a great tool for people who are just starting out juicing. It’s relatively easy on the pockets, sturdy and it gets the job done without *too much* waste!

I don’t have time to juice. Cleaning up is so time consuming. 

Tell yourself what you want. 🙂 The truth is, we make time for the things we want to make time for. I also chose this type of fast to exercise greater discipline when it came to actually taking the time to prepare each “meal” and clean up. This meant getting up a little earlier in the morning and/or staying up a little late at night.

I found that it took me all of 3-6 minutes to clean up after I finished juicing. Juicing itself takes another 5-10 minutes depending on how much I’m juicing.

During the weeks that I knew I had a full schedule, I was able to juice enough 16oz Mason jars to last me for two days. From what I’ve read, you do not want to keep your fresh juice longer than 48 hours as to not waste any. Even in tightly sealed Mason Jars (available anywhere from Walmart to Target and even Big Lots) shouldn’t hold juice for longer than 48 hours.

What if I’m not ready to do a total juice fast?

No problemo! Maybe “detoxing” or fasting isn’t for you right now. That’s just fine. The key is that you begin to include more nutrients in your daily dietary intake. So, instead of eating a late dinner when you get home from a long day, replace that meal with some fresh juice! Or instead of a soda, tea or processed juice with a meal, replace it with fresh juice!!!

The idea is that you replace “bad” food with good food. You’ll eventually find that you won’t even crave the same foods/drinks after juicing for a week or so! (I promise!) 

How do I get started?

1) Purchase a juicer. The one I mentioned above is only $99 and you may be able to find it on Amazon or Ebay for even less. If you’re unable to purchase a a juicer, perhaps start with a blender and go from there. The consistency will be different (of course) and hard to swallow (pun intended) but you’re still on the right track. 

2) Dive into information from people who have experience in juicing! I follow @straightjuicin on Twitter and FB. They are always doing “challenges” and giving tips for better juicing! 

Check out the following documentaries (available on Netflix) for more insight and actual medical expertise! *whispers* Start with ‘Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead’ which gives a first hand account of someone who changed their entire life through juicing!

Juicing (and eating healthy) is too expensive!
Consider this: In one week I spent about $90 on only fresh produce. Is eating healthy expensive? It can be. But think of all the other things we spend our money on frivolously. Also, I’ve had to consider, do I want to spend more money now on healthier foods or later on the cost of healthcare. For our own sake  we MUST start thinking long-term! 

It’s nothing for us to spend $35 on pizzas and sodas for a night or $70+ for dinner for two on any given night. This $70 of produce will last me for at least the next week. It’s really all about prioritizing. Eat to live! Don’t live to eat! 😉

What are some of your favorite recipes?

OOOOKAY! This is the good stuff!  Check out these FREE eBooks from Breville!

+Ras Idric Durden put me on to:

• sweet potato juice
• (Fuji) apples
• Ginger 
• THIS is my go-to when I’m suffering from a sweet tooth! It’s so rich and wonderful…YUM! He actually adds pineapple as well but I have yet to do so.

Post workout:

• Swiss Chard
• Cucumber
• Granny Smith apples
• Lime

Citrus Blend:

• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Lime

Beet Treat (Yes, I named it! Lol)

• 1 Beet (I don’t measure much of anything. Even when I cook, but I can tell you that you won’t want more than one beet. Ha! Quite a strong, earthy taste.)
• Carrots
• Fuji apple
• Ginger (If I’m feeling fancy)

Hydrating Juice:

• Celery
• Cucumber
• Granny Smith
• Kale (or spinach…or chard…any green will do! *wink*)

I think that’s it! For now!

HAPPY JUICING!

Change Isn’t Easy

Today is day 17 of my 40 day juice fast. I haven’t been able to share the information I wanted due to technical difficulties BUT I am going to fill my blog up with all the information I can today. For now, here are some thoughts from today (I’ll share a confession post later this afternoon):

If you are seeking to live a healthier lifestyle, perhaps in unconventional or seemingly “trendy” ways, do not get discouraged when friends/coworkers and loved ones don’t always provide you with the encouragement you need. Especially if they’re close minded to new ideas/habits. 

Continue to do what you know/are learning to do. Don’t give up or consider yourself a failure if you eat a meal of veggies when you’re juicing or eat meat while attempting to eat vegetarian/vegan. 

When it comes to living a better life and being a better you, do what it takes and continue to be an example for those who have yet to find the strength you’re gaining!

I’ve had a terrible tension headache all day. I’m stressed, frustrated and want junkfood. I want cupcakes, something fried and some bread. 

I don’t want these foods because I’m actually hungry for such foods but because out of habit, these are the things I allow myself to eat for “comfort” when such feelings come upon me.

INSTEAD I am standing fast and will remain disciplined. When I crave something sweet, rich and comforting, sweet potato and apple juice with ginger has been my go to. 

I’m learning that the key to replacing bad habits is to find good habits that triggers the same feel good emotions. This takes a conscious effort on our part as change begins first in the MIND. When we find ourselves discouraged or down in the dumps because of stress, laying around sulking or pigging out on our favorite junkfood is not conducive to permanent change. 

To BE the change you want to see you have to DO the things that need to be changed! (Wow! What a concept!)

*BEAM*

Weather the Storm

We collided

Fast and free

As storms do

I, high and dry out of the Midwest,

You, laying low on the east coast

Neither meteorologist nor cupid could have predicted

And neither did we

Eyes wide open to the colors on the horizon

Watching each other from across the room

Who knew that our fronts would collide creating a storm like no other?

I, hoping my sunny smile would break through the clouds

Your eyes dark, holding back nightmares like pending rain

You still keep watch as night falls

Sleepless

The stillness of the air

The calm before the storm forbids your sleep

You’re the watchman

I often wondered, in your midnight, as I lay dreaming of blue skies

Did you see the destruction coming?

Did the darkness of the night bring daydreams?

Maybe you saw that we wouldn’t weather the storm

We didn’t trust that we could dance in the rain together

In unison

Step by step

Matching the rhythm of each drop

Swaying with the breeze

Instead, we loved hard

Energies clashing

Igniting lightning strikes

Our love sparked wild fires

Passion burning fervently

Consuming everything in its path

Leaving behind earth so fertile

We could feed nations from its fruit

But you ran for cover

Running when my winds blew too hard

Carrying emotions you weren’t prepared to weather

Another storm, on the horizon

I didn’t recognize that your habit of leaving

Pennies tossed about the bedroom floor

Was evidence of the hail storms that had bruised your heart

No insurance adjuster could add up the damage

But I

I wanted to melt your chilled heart  

My love luminous rainbows

Vibrant colors painted by rogue sunrays shine through

You as daggered ‘cicles clinging dangerously from rooftops

There’s beauty locked within that cold, hard core

And just like a tornado you

Rush in

Unannounced

Turning my world upside down in the most beautiful way

Tumultuously

You love me

And leave

Your presence fleeting like the seasons

Until the next time our fronts collide again

© 2013 Nina Brewton from Heart of a Queen Poetry and Prose from the Soul

Juice…FAST!

I’m kind of a big deal. And by big deal, I mean…I’m overweight. While I have learned to stand in confidence in this skin, I know that my fluctuating weight is due to inconsistent habits when it comes to my diet and exercise. Lucky for me, my weight is distributed rather evenly across my whole body…all 210lbs of me. 

At my heaviest (two years ago), I was 225lbs and a size 18. Standing just under 5’7, my then 31 year old knees  were in pain from the extra weight. I’ve always taken pride in having good posture but with my bulging mid-section pulling my weight forward, my lower back was in constant pain leaving me sitting and walking lazily with slumped shoulders.  

In late 2011, I’d finally seemed to find my rhythm. I was running consistently with my first half marathon in sight. I got down to 190 or so and was a strong size 12…or weak 14. 😉 In April of 2012, I ran my longest run and completed the Dismal Swamp Stomp Half Marathon (13.1 miles).

Shortly thereafter, I stopped running. I stopped exercising with exception of the occasional attempt to bring yoga back into my routine…kind of. I had, again, fallen from a horse that was racing towards the beginning of a very prosperous thirty-third year of life. 

Just months before, I had fulfilled the greatest physical challenge of my life! A FULL 13.1 miles?!?! And now, I’d fallen off the horse into an onslaught of weight gain…again.

Here I am nearly a year later and have gained back a significant amount of the weight. I’m winded taking the stairs and back to a “healthy” 210lbs. So…

…now what?

I’m longing for consistency. I LOVE the way I feel when my diet and schedule are in order. I’ve found that when I’m disciplined enough to continue growing in the natural and physical, my spiritual walk is far more disciplined…and vice versa. 

I’ve began a juice detox/fast. I chose this particular fast during the Lenten because it is both physically and spiritually driven. Here it is, day two and I’m feeling good. I’ll be sharing my journey right here every with updates every Tuesday and Thursday beginning today. 

I know I’m not the only one to struggle with weight. But I’m sharing my journey with you all to help show you that, “weight” itself isn’t the issue. The greater issue lies in our inability to practice discipline and remain consistent in multiple areas of our lives. Generally, when things are out of balance, our diet and exercise are the first to suffer.

I know that right now, juicing seems to be the trendy thing to do. But sometimes, it takes the ignition of a trend to ignite real change in the hearts and minds of people. I’ve enjoyed homemade juices for years but have never committed to it (consistently…dangit. There’s that word again) for any extensive amount of time. As trendy as it may seem, I know that it’s not going to be easy.  

Check back regularly, invite friends to subscribe and join me as I am inspired to inspire!

*BEAM* 

A Stone’s Throw

When we look at the history of human nature, we find that morals are taught…or not. Even when standards of traditional morality are ingrained into our psyche, it is only a matter of time before something or someone comes along causing us to question what’s right and what’s wrong. Such doubt knocks us off of the safety of our high horse, sending us plummeting down into a depth of emotions and insecurities only held by us mere mortals.

Ego and pride sit in, clouding our vision and our judgment, often leading us to dig holes so deep that nothing or no one but the grace of God can lift us out…

None of us know the true reasons why a person does the things they do. Although it would appear that most behaviors are acted upon out of arrogance, that’s rarely the case. Even when arrogance manifests itself, it’s generally rooted in a greater issue; a lack of confidence, knowledge of self and limited self-worth.

All things considered, we must learn to be more gracious when it comes to the failures and sins of our brothers and sisters. With the increase in social media and ease of graphic design, it is easier than ever to “call out” those who are in the wrong. What we fail to consider is that at any moment, our own discrepancies could land us on the chopping block for all to see, criticize and judge.  

I personally have never been one for “outing” anyone, adding to or spreading already ousted information. I’m of the thought that people will suffer enough with the original outing of a particular offense. Some encounter familial disgrace, others financial collapse and others still, a combination of multiple instances of discomfiture.

From international pop stars to local celebrities, right on down to the average Joe, it’s easy to point our fingers, declaring how “low down” another is. On Twitter, Instagram and everywhere else across the interwebs we, as a generation, add our own commentary in public forums. As entertaining and amusing as this behavior can be when the shoe is not on our feet, it doesn’t aid in providing a remedy for the situation or aid in the growth or rebuilding of the person(s) involved.

I also have my own issues that could very well make for a good “talk of the town” at any point in my life. We all do. And THIS is important to remember while we seek to condemn one based on our immediate opinion of them and their words/actions.

We are all but a stone’s throw away from condemnation.

*BEAM*

Then the sun showed up

Kissing me ever so deeply

Illuminating me from the inside out

Driving clouded melancholy from my heart

Bringing peace to my mind

Just like that, began a rhythm

Through me shone Love like the one you lost, only real

And I give it to you with every smile

You’re left inspired to kiss another, ever so deeply

Beginning with the sunshine in your eyes

From ‘Heart of a Queen – Poetry and Prose from the Soul’ 

Alone With Self and Consequences

This poem was written years ago but will finally be put into print with many others in my new book, “Heart of a Queen – Poetry and Prose from the Soul” coming January 2013

I think I’ll sit atop trees to cry these tears of mine so that people may say,

“Oh, it’s raining again,” instead of, “damn, she’s crying again?”

I sometimes wish that a thousand bugs would crawl across my skin

Leaving small bumps as evidence of their feeding so that I could think of that and not of you…

I want to drink until I black out so that I may have no remembrance of the look in your eyes the first time we met.

I wish that scientist and surgeons would all come together to perform a revolutionary procedure removing all memories of you and me that are still creeping around in my mind…

I would like to be circumcised so that I may never touch myself again in an attempt to relive how it felt to make love to you…

I at times desire to have my hearing lost so that I cannot hear when people ask if I’ve seen you, or how have you been?  Because I DON’T KNOW!!!!!!

I want to have my hands removed so that I might not reach for you…as you walk on by…

© Nina Brewton 2012

#ThrowbackThursday – The Habit of Disappointment

From the archive: 1/30/11 – I woke up feeling quite disappointed in myself. From my excessive use of blue cheese dressing to my failure to write consistently, I’ve been slippin’…

Layered in between the blue cheese and my loss of significant use of words you can find too much sleep and not enough prayer. Over-eating and lack of cardio…

It is believed that it takes 21 days to form a new habit – whether that habit be good or bad. I have found this to be true, which is why it is detrimental to our continued growth that we not “wait til Monday” to go back to the gym or the beginning of the month to start eating right.

If it takes 21 days for a new habit to be formed, NOW is as crucial as ever. Although I woke up disappointed for various reason, I can’t allow myself to remain disappointed for too long. NOW, not tomorrow, not next week, NOW is the time to take an honest assessment, shake off the disappointment and keep it moving.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:1 shares a great promise to those who are in Christ. Now to just STOP walking according to my flesh…self-control in every area…

Every day that we wallow in what we didn’t do yesterday is throwing God’s gift of today back in His face! 

TODAY is what we have. Shake of the habits that keep you bound in disappointment and GO FORTH in the gifts of grace and mercy that we receive with each new day!