Publishing My Children's Book: UPDATE

GREETINGS

For many of you who read or keep up with my social media or are close to me in real life you know that I have been working on getting my Children's book published. For a little background story, I started a Go Fund Me account with a goal of $1,000. I raised $1,110 in 4 months with a combination of online and physical monetary donations, word of mouth, mass messages, and social media sharing. The love and support I received from my loved ones and even those that I do not know very well was real.

The money that was raised was used to pay for the publishing. Because I am doing a Children's book illustrations are required. The illustrations are separate and will cost me exactly $720. I have increased my original Go Fund Me campaign to 1,900 in hopes of raising the rest of funds so that I can finally get my book published. I am currently 6 months in and My goal is to have the entire project completed by or before the summer of 2015. 

My book was originally titled "Little Brother Squash". The story is based on a true story of my life back to the age of 5, when I wanted a brother so bad. With an innocent perception of conceiving a child and the big "disappointment" of getting a sister, this book teaches children the art of patience, love, and friendship.

The initial reason for me writing this book was for a class project. After people heard and read my story, they told me they enjoyed it. Some of them mentioned that I should have it published, and here I am. Shout out to Bonnie Pipkin! (My Professor)

Dear Parents: This would be a great book to read to your children to teach them the art of patience and handling disappointment. It also surrounded around and briefly discusses the infamous topic "Where do babies come from?". If your little one has become curious or you're ready to introduce the topic of Sex, this book is for you! Thank you!

Dear Teachers: My book uses simple language which means it can be read to a 5 year old, who will be able to comprehend and relate to the content ... some even the story line. By 7 years of age they should be able to read it alone, use critical thinking skills and answer questions about it's content. Thank You!

If you are interested in donating please visit my Go Fund Me Campaign at:

 http://www.gofundme.com/d2s238

If you are unable to give a monetary donation please share my story:

on Google using Google plus

on your Facebook, Twitter, etc.

YOUR SUPPORT (OF ALL KIND) IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

16 Months Post BC: My Natural Hair Staple Products (Updated)

I have been natural for over a year. In the beginning I was a major product junkie that bought ever natural hair product I saw on social media. But now that I'm 16 months post Big Chop  I have some  products that I use for my hair daily. Check them out!

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo, Conditioner, and Curl Enhancing Smoothie

I originally bought these products in the small travel size kit for $20 just to try them out. Then right after I ended up buying the Shea Moisture Yucca and Baobab Line travel kit. (at that time I was a real product junkie) Long story short, I hadn't given my self enough time to thoroughly review the Coconut & Hibiscus Line and assumed that I didn't like it when in reality, I was blinded by how good the Yucca & Baobab line smelled. The truth of the matter was that my hair really didn't like the Yucca and Baobab Oil Line. So this past weekend Walgreen's was having a BOGO Free sale and on that Sunday I went to pick up these products. After one use my hair felt sooo soft and moisturized. Since Shea Moisture's Shampoos are Sulfate-Free I use these products in between Deep Cleansing periods.

Eco Styler with Olive Oil

I LOVE LOVE this gel ... I can use it with just about any product and it will not flake. It brings out my true curl pattern when I do a wash-n-go and it lays my edges when necessary. I have no complaints about this gel. I know that Eco Styler has many other types of gel but this is the second one I bought, tried, loved and actually finished. I am currently waiting to restock.

Click HERE to see the results from a washNgo with the Original Eco Stlyer Gel

Organix Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner

An old friend gave me this Shampoo because she did not like it for her hair type. She has very curly hair, maybe about 3c. Although this is a sulfate shampoo I do not feel like my strands are being stripped of it's moisture when I use it. But as a sidebar if my hair is really dry I will do a pre-poo before washing with sulfate shampoo to avoid drying out my hair. During my Walgreens escapade I decided to pick up the matching conditioner since I liked the shampoo so much. I use this when I want to do a full cleanse for my scalp and hair after my hair gets a lot of build-up from constant product use.

Creme of Nature with Argan Oil From Morocco Edge Control

 

I have tried the Olive Oil brand edge control and it leaves this yucky white paste on my edges and it doesn't last all day! My mom is fairly newly natural and suggested that I try this Creme of Nature edge control because it worked great for her. We have the same type of hair, so I was hoping we'd get the same results and sure enough my edges stayed slick all day with no white icky patches. It was just as good as the Eco Styler gel, if not a temporary replacement for it. (Since I am still waiting to restock) I don't always do styles where having sleek edges are necessary but it's good to have a product that works when I need it.

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Cream

This product was in my first Staple Product Post (which you can find >HERE<), and still is now months later! I used to use this as a pre-poo and I still do when I feel I need a moisture and protein boost.

Organics by Africa's Best Hair Mayonnaise

This product was in my first Staple Product Post as well. I mix this with the Cantu Shea Butter when I'm doing a protein treatment on my hair. My hair is color-treated and therefore needs protein more often than normal non color treated hair. I love mixing the products two together.

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

This product I love to use as a deep conditioner. I will admit that the product feels weird laying on my hair but once it's rinsed out my hair feels soft and does bring out my curls.

100% All Natural Honey

 

Honey is a humectant. A humectant attracts moisture (with the help of heat) Adding honey to my deep conditioner(s); whether for protein or moisture honey helps my hair to gain moisture. I wash this out with warm water then shock my hair cuticles with cool water to lock in the moisture.

What Do Children Think of Domestic Violence?

Recently I came across a video on Facebook and I felt the need to share it with the rest of my Facebook friends. One particular line stood out to me after the video was over "Girls shouldn't be hit, not even with a flower"

The fact that each of these six boys were able to refrain from hitting her, even though they all had different reasons why they refused, i think that it was great to see that children are still being raised to do what is right. With stable homes and good influences around them. 

Although some may argue that when put a bad situation and when anger is involved sometimes things  are done without much thought. What I say to that is, it is better to walk away than to react in anger, acts done in anger will often turn into regret later.

SideNote:

The type of behavior we exhibit in front of children is important. It is scientifically proven that if a child grows up in a home with domestic violence, they are very likely to find themself in the same predicament becoming either the agressor or the victim. The cycle is ongoing.

I honestly can not wait to become a teacher, children can teach you humility everyday just by knowing and practicing what is morally right without much thought. If you notice, it didn't take very long for some to give a face of confusion when they were told to slap her. To them, It just didn't seem right.

Check out the video below !

By recycling this video I just want to share the obvious message that it is important to share with our youth that violence is never the answer, unless in life-threatening self-defense. Since we're on the topic of violence and children I wanted to redirect to the topic of bullying. Bullying is a world-wide issue in schools and has been for many years. Many students are committing suicide because they become victims of Bullying, it must STOP! 

When I was in Middle School, I myself was bullied. Last semester I created an informational website for one of my classes where I chose to focus on Bullying. On the site I introduce different forms of Bullying, programs, intervention methods, and my personal story. My hopes in creating this website and making it public was that I would be able to help someone by having them see and understand that they are truly not alone in this world and that there are people who care about them. EVERY LIFE MATTERS.

http://camerody.wix.com/stopbullying

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Some of her Edited Promo Videos

 

 

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Poetry: Fatherless Child

Could it be that I substitute lustful infatuation for love? or mistake an act of kindness for trust?
Using his words to define me, i mean refine me, leaving the real me in the dust
Can you really blame me for being attracted to someone who shows interest in my existence
Someone who is persistent, consistent and whose smile breaks my resistance
It's a real feeling I get of satisfaction through common conversation of nothingness
The willingness to waste time with me means something to me if not everything for me because time can not be given back
Sorry your interest in my existence was nonexistent, guess in the 90's being a father was wack.

Respect from hoes was worth more than respect from your daughter
If it was up to you, if you were her, you would have probably said "abort her"
You knew I was a girl and that I'd be your first daughter but that wasn't enough for you
You had 9 months which turned into 1 plus twenty now you're begging for my heart to attend to it's broken it needs amends too, a man too?

So I'm looking at guy after guy to cut into some deep hurting pain from my past
Not realizing that they can't give me what I'm missing cause I can't miss what I never had 
I asked God for a brother but I never got em
When I was 8 I wanted to meet my Father but I never saw em
After that, just like everything you cant change in life, you learn to accept
Accept and move on not accept and dwell in it

Yet I found myself looking for what I lacked in a male figure in a young boy
I didn't know it yet but my innocence he would destroy
How can you be sure about love and if you're in it, if there is no demonstration clearly displayed to see
How can i be sure that he loves me for me, not what i give or what i can be but everything that I am if I haven't truly accepted me for me
I long to feel love from a man who created me with his sperm
Not physical love from a boy with a toy in it sperm, I'm talking something long term
Deeply invested in things that cannot be returned or given back
Like time, memories, laughs, tears, words, or the lack...thereof

Written By:DLSC

The HOLIDAY Tag!

Hi Everybody, It's ME ! I know long time no see, no hear but it was the longest semester of my college career thus far so I needed some time to breath. But finals are over so now I am able to rest a LITTLE more. I say a LITTLE because the reality is, when you get older there is always something to get done. To the point where when you're doing absolutely nothing it's a blessing.

Anyway, I just wanted to bring you something small and sweet for the holidays so I decided to do a Christmas Tag! Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday :) filled with snow, family, warmth, food, and fun. 

Let's get started ... ho ho ho!

1. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
   

My favorite Christmas movies are Home Alone 1 and 2. These movies are as about as old as I am and still get played religiously on TV today. They're great classics! I remember watching them as a kid wondering how "Kevin" was able to successfully make those booby traps, I tried to create a trap once... but then I realized Science wasn't my thing. There are a lot of chain reactions involved.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
   
   Could you imagine being 6 years old walking passed the tree everyday knowing it's Christmas only to hear that you can't open your gifts until everyone is home? (Which was always night time) At the time it was torture!

But now, I open them within the week of Christmas. I have no real anticipation anymore, because most of the time I receive monetary gifts.

3. Do you have a favorite Christmas memory?
   

At about 10 or so and I played one of the sheep in the church Christmas play. And we had to crawl around on the stage saying baaa baaa for what seemed hours. It was the worst role I was ever assigned.

4. Favorite Festive food?

Sorrel ? Which is not a food but a Jamaican drink that it is made at Christmas time. it's made with ginger, rum, cinnamon, sorrel plant, etc.

5. Favorite Christmas gift ?

My mom always gives me the best Christmas gifts, because it's always exactly what I ask for. And last year when my boyfriend surprised me with a laptop. Or the year I got two Easy Bake ovens for Christmas or The barbie dolls whose hair changed colors with a cool blow dryer.

6. Favorite Christmas scent?

Apple Cinnamon and Pumpkin Spice, yum ! It certainly depends on the brand though because not all candles smell equally as good.

7.  Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

No but I can start one.

8. What tops your tree?

If I had a tree, a star.

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

A pet ... now for some "a pet" may not fit any of those adjectives described but for my family it applies. I asked for a fish, the most simple pet there is and my mother refused. Then I asked for a dog, I was way out of my league asking for that one though. I was better off begging for the fish. Of which both I still don't have.

10. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?

Being able to be around loved ones and giving everyone a gift and watching them smile. I love how I feel inside when I give to others, it's an unexplainable warm feeling.

Do You Get Paid to Shop Online? I Do!

Are you a shopaholic? Do you prefer to shop online? Have you ever thought about what it would be like own your own business, go on vacation to Dubai, or go on a care free shopping Spree? Well, Ebates is the perfect site for you!

What is Ebates?

Ebates is a online company who is interested in paying you to shop online at popular stores like Victoria's Secret, Macy's, Walmart, even Ebay and Amazon among many others. Check out  

THE LIST HERE.

How does Ebates work?

-Register 

-Select your favorite store(s) you will be redirected to the website

-Shop

-Get Cash back

That Simple :).

Is it a scam? 

When I first signed up and made a purchase within 6 months I got a $10 Macy's gift card sent to me in the mail. I've also received a check from the company with my rebates.The proof is in the pudding.

So what are you waiting for?

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Interested in reading about the Pros and Cons of Online Shopping?
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