Do you see the SunKissed GLOW on that leg?! Photo Credit: Samuel

If there's nothing else I learned from 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals, it's that you never know what you need until you need it. Spending 7 days exercising self-care has been nothing short of powerful.

I woke up on day 7 feeling a sense of energy, clarity, and direction that seemed wane in recent months. I immediately felt the need to harness this opportunity and chart my course for the rest of 2017.

There was only one problem - I couldn't for the life of me find my goal journal. I turned my office upside down looking for that thing, and came up empty handed.

Not one to be deterred, I went to my favorite place to think - the shower (anybody else a shower thinker like me?) Craving something to match my upbeat mood - Soultanicals Skinny Dippin' Mango Trippin' Organic Sippin' Body Juice and SunKissed Melanin Mist were calling my name.

Yes - Ayo has finally brought skincare products back into the mix!

While in the shower, I thought, and thought, and thought about where that journal could be. It wasn't on my newly de-cluttered desk. Not on my book-turnt-product shelf, either. It wasn't hiding in that extra drawer Black folks just seem to have with everything from pens and pepper packets to twine and telephone cords, and I checked every closet, work, and gym bag. I knew exactly where my Class of 2008 UCLA Afrikan Grad stoll was, but couldn't find the journal I wrote my goals in from January.

I was in too good of a mood to stress it, so I let Skinny Dippin' take me away (#nocalgon) while I came up with a new game plan.

Then it hit me - use your iPad, silly!

I spritzed myself down with SunKissed Melanin Mist, got dressed, and sat down with my iPad notes to chart out some new goals.

Shower game tight all summer 17!

Skinny Dippin' Mango Trippin' Organic Sippin' Body Juice

What it is
An organic, vegan, body wash bursting with skin-loving oils and tropical realness. Loaded with organic coconut, olive, hemp, jojoba, shea, and aloe, this cleanser leaves skin feeling soft and supple instead of dried out.

And it smells heavenly.

How I used it
Skinny Dippin' is a body wash (and a good one at that), so I definitely lathered it all over myself. But what I also discovered is that it makes a kick-butt shaving soap - especially for sensitive skin. Skinny Dippin' left my skin soft, smooth, and feeling like I needed to be laid up at somebody's pool.

Key benefits
Crafted with some of the best oils for the skin, Skinny Dippin' gently lathers away the dirt of the day (sorry, I didn't mean for that to rhyme lmao) without stripping skin of essential moisture. I highly recommend it for dry and sensitive skin.

SunKissed Melanin Mist

What it is
A vegan, oil-based body spray that produces a natural glow while providing gentle UV protection and intense moisture for the skin.

How I used it
Depending on my mood, I'll either spray SunKissed on while I'm still in the shower and my skin is damp, or on my exposed skin right before I leave the house. Either way is a win - and the fruity, earthy fragrance will definitely have me skipping perfume all summer 17.

Key benefits
Cocoa butter, carrot, moringa, and sunflower oil provide the skin with powerful antioxidants to help prevent free radical damage while softening and moisturizing. SunKissed also gives you a gorgeous, natural glow while out - and can even help you tan a lil' bit. Have you seen my legs? They need all the help they can get. #justkeepingitreal

I wish you could smell these through the picture! Photo Credit: Samuel

On the 7th Day of Self Care with Soultanicals, I decided it was time to make a pivot and start fresh in July. I walked away:

• Understanding that self care is necessary, and should be ongoing.

• Believing there was a reason I couldn't find my old goal journal. It was almost like God was telling me, "don't look back that way. It's time for a new season." He's going to do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19 NIV) - and I'm excited.

• Feeling like July gave me a fresh start. The first half of 2017 was behind me - the second half, is ahead of me. How I finish the year will define how well I spent it, not how I started.

• Wanting to become a finisher. Full transparency moment - I'm great at starting things. I'm really good at picking up the pieces to get moving - I know how to ramp up, build momentum, and taxi off the runway at full speed. My comfort zone is in starting. But I suck at finishing stuff. Half-written e-books and blog posts, unmet fitness goals, and even a few books with pages unturned plague me. That stops here. I'm going to close out the year by closing in on my goals - finishing the things I started. Crossing that threshold into completion. Pray for me, lol.

It's Bailey's first appearance on the blog! Yes, she has an IG - @baileythesheprador lol

I put my first post on Instagram in 2012 - a few months after I re-launched my blog as The Mane Objective (formerly Kinky Crown). It was a simpler time back then - blogs were poppin', YouTube hadn't become the absolute monster it is today yet, and Instagram was all about sharing everyday experiences in real-time. There was no such thing as an "Instagram Influencer", photos were confined to 612x612 squares, and the Valencia filter reigned supreme.

Back in the day, this used to come in a jar. The pump is much more effective, lol.

Whoever took this picture needs a cookie. It was either Samuel or my oldest nephew.

I'ma just come right out and say it - I am the most unlikely candidate for gardening. Spiders and their ghoulish webs freak me out. Bees give me the creeps, but I respect their hustle. I finds ants annoying, and worms, beetles, and other creepy crawlies make me shudder.

But here I am in 2017, gardening.

It started out with me just thinking it would be cool to have some herbs at-the-ready as I cooked. The first time I made chicken with the rosemary and sage I planted, I was hooked. I fell in love with the idea of not having to buy every single thing at the store, and the idea of literally cultivating things in my own backyard.

A snippet of my garden goodies!

I started out with the collard greens and lemons that were already growing here. Then, I planted mint, sage, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. In the next flowerbed, I put down lavender, aloe, scotch bonnet, and red bell peppers. And in the last flowerbed, garlic and red onions. I'm not done - eventually I'd like to plant kale, broccoli, spinach, basil, and maybe even cabbage.

I'm clearly holding myself back from going 0 to 100 with gardening, because there's so much about it for me to learn. I'm impatient, and a full steam ahead kind of gal, so I'm trying to learn to pace myself - especially with things that are only so far within or totally beyond my control.

And even though it seems like my home-based horticulture is poppin', I'm far from a gardening expert - and I definitely don't have it all figured out.

The collards! I can't take credit for 'em though. Picture credit belongs to Samuel or my neph.

When I first planted everything, I was in the backyard almost daily checking on my green babies - making sure no harm befell them (but also trying to get them to hurry up and grow lol). Eventually, I got annoyed with what seemed like slow or no growth, and I got a little neglectful. Weeks would pass without me getting down in the flowerbeds to clear out grass, and closely inspect their growth. After spending some semi-quiet time in the back yard (because Samuel was raking leaves in the front yard, Bailey thinks the rake is a toy, and my oldest nephew was visiting), I came away with a hearty number of revelations and reminders that apply in gardening and everyday life.

So much good stuff going on here.

Working with Soultanicals Coil Soil Clarifying Hair Fertilizer and 'Fro Despair Vitamin Hair Repair definitely inspired me to seek self-care in the garden. They both work their magic at the roots (ha) - so let's dive in.

Coil-Soil Clarifying Hair Fertilizer

What it is
Coil-Soil is quite possibly Soultanicals' most potent hair and scalp detox treatment. The top 3 ingredients are activated charcoal, dead sea mud, and bentonite clay. It's the trifecta treatment for those of us who suffer with itchy/dry scalp, dandruff, eczema, psoriasis, and sebhorreic dermatitis. The trio of powerhouse ingredients lift dandruff and flakes while soothing irritation and drawing out impurities from the scalp and hair.

See all that definition? From Coil Soil! Yassss!

How I used it
I wet my hair down with warm water to remove as much product buildup as I could. I then went through my hair, finger parting and massaging Coil-Soil into my scalp. After my scalp was completely covered, I ran my fingers through from root to ends to allow the excess to work along the length of my hair. The heaviest concentration of product remained on my scalp. I clipped my hair up and into a plastic cap, and then used my Hot Head Thermal Cap for 30 minutes.

Key benefits
Coil-Soil helps relieve itching and flaking, while removing toxins and debris from the hair and scalp. Although it's incredibly potent, it's also very moisturizing thanks to olive oil, aloe vera, and sweet almond. It has good slip, and makes it very easy to work through tangles. If your hair has been feeling a little limp, like its lost some 'oomph' - this treatment is exactly what you need. My curls were super soft, springy, and defined after rinsing.

'Fro Despair Vitamin Hair Repair

What it is
Honestly, the deep conditioner that might oust Afrotastic Curl Elastic as my favorite. But to be more specific, think of it as a green juice for your hair and scalp. It's loaded with botanicals and vitamins - biotin, spirulina, wheatgrass, barley grass, oat grass, chlorella, alfalfa, MSM, and so much more. This deep conditioner is best for hair that is damaged, distressed, color treated, weak and brittle, or just in need of a strengthening boost.

So much slip. SO much good stuff. Quite possibly my new favorite DC from Soultanicals.

How I used it
After cleansing with Coil-Soil, I applied a generous amount of 'Fro Despair throughout my hair in sections, working it from root to ends. I clipped my hair up and into a plastic cap, and then used my Hot Head Thermal Cap for 30 minutes.

Key benefits
Loaded with as much slip as it has greens, 'Fro Despair is literally Amazing Grass in deep conditioner form. It nourishes hair at the root, strengthening follicles and promoting growth thanks to horsetail, rosemary, sage, and biotin. Wheatgrass, barely grass, chlorella, and alfalfa work in tandem to help slow and reverse signs of aging and damage while promoting healthy hair growth - and brown rice protein along with Pro Vitamin B5 and cetrimonium chloride help strengthen the hair and prevent breakage.

Day 5 was a much-needed day to not only focus on my roots and hair growth, but to slow down and take in a few lessons on self-care from the garden. A lot of quotes and concepts I've previously read about make more sense now - and I even got new clarity on a familiar passage of scripture.

My bells! One of them has started turning red since the taking of this photo - by Samuel or my neph lol.

Getting in my garden with Soultanicals Coil-Soil and 'Fro Despair helped me achieve better mental clarity and diffuse a lot of personal stress I've been carrying about achieving goals and my next steps in life. Here's what I walked away with on day 5:

• Pruning is not a one-time activity. It's a consistent, proactive measure that must be taken to yield the best results. Without pruning - in gardening and in life - those activities/things/people (or vegetables) that are not the best or do not have the potential to be the best are just siphoning off resources and hamstringing those that do. I had to cut a hefty bit of my oregano back, and one of my bell peppers for this reason. Pruning is a heavy topic, and I'll tackle it in an upcoming blog post.

• I never realized gardening is as nuanced as it is. I thought it was as simple as digging some dirt, throwing some seeds or shoots down, and watering. With that method, sure, something is bound to grow. But how much? Gardening, like relationships and even talents, must be nurtured, fed, and attended to in order to reach their maximum potential. 

SO many scotch bonnets now. I might start selling them on IG lol! Picture credit: Samuel or my neph.

• Even plants that wither and almost die can bounce back. I ended up having to move my mint plant to a bigger flower bed, because it was suffocating my sage and thyme. It looked so hearty and healthy, I was sure it would take root in the new bed and thrive. I was wrong. It basically died. I cut the dead leaves and branches, and watered the mint faithfully. In a week or so, I saw green leaves again. If that ain't a word....

• I have Galatians 6:9 committed to memory, because it helped me through a really difficult personal time. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not." I was reminded of this while gardening. Keep on pressing, Christina.

Clearly, I learned a lot. Oh, and I like ladybugs.



Catch up with the entire 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals series here!

Candid moments captured by The Flatlay Photog

If you've followed me for any length of time, you know that I'm born, bred, and living in Los Angeles. I never really realize how much of an "LA girl" I am until I go other places.

I complain about city noise, pollution, and overcrowding - then I go somewhere tranquil and miss the commotion 72 hours later. I complain about the traffic and how terribly LA folks drive, and then spend a week in Maryland wondering why everyone drives like they have absolutely nowhere to be.

And don't even get me started on the weather.

Even though I'm an LA girl and I live less than 10 miles from the nearest beach, I don't go too often. Not nearly as often as I should. Which is beyond strange, considering not only the proximity, but also the fact that it's quite literally my favorite place to go and be still. The beach is where I go when I'm really overwhelmed and looking to hear from God. Something about looking out at the seemingly infinite water with my toes in the sand reminds me just how small I am, and how big my God is.

It reminds me of His infinite wisdom, and how fearfully and wonderfully made all of his creations are.

I had only been to the beach recently to work out with Samuel, his brother, and Bailey. The second I opened Soultanicals' Marula-Melon Moisture Guru, ripe with summer melon flavor, I just knew.

Christina, take your behind to the beach. Stop waiting on a beach day with bae, and just go.

My life was basically covered in sand at this point. Photo by The Flatlay Photog

And so I went. Day 4 of 7 was all about me in my happy place.

Although I had Antoinette (aka The Flatlay Photog // Sup x Dine) with me, there was something so invigorating about my bare feet in the sand. It was almost like plugging myself into a charging station. The water was vibrantly blue (totally not common in LA, lol), and when Antoinette asked if I was stepping in, I was like, "umm heck yeah!' - intent on taking full advantage.

I didn't plan to have so much fun in the water - but I did.

I didn't plan to spend as much time there as I did - but I was happy it went down that way.

I also didn't plan to have my life taken away by 1 foot of sea water 😂 - but it almost happened. (more on that later - I promise you'll laugh)

Thanks to the summery goodness of Marula-Melon Moisture Guru, I found myself having the time of my life at the beach. My spirits were lifted in a way they hadn't been in some time - and I'm so glad I didn't wait a moment longer to do it.

So much good stuff. Photo by The Flatlay Photog

Marula Melon Moisture Guru

What it is
Marula-Melon Moisture Guru is a summertime take on the epic Marula-Muru Moisture Guru. It's a super creamy, medium consistency moisturizer and hair revitalizer packed with strand-nourishing botanicals. It smells like a watermelon Jolly Rancher, and leaves hair super moisturized and smooth. It can be used as a leave-in, or to add moisture to the hair in the days following styling.

How I used it
Knowing I was beach-bound, I used Marula-Melon Moisture Guru to protect my strands from the elements. I took a moderate amount, emulsified it in my hands and scrunched it into my curls. I also used it later that night for date night with Mr. Samuel, and you know what?! As we waited for our table, I placed my head on his chest and he said, "yo, your hair smells nice." I replied, "awww, thank you!" but in my mind I was like, "MARULA-MELON ON MINES, CUH!!!"😂 Y'all know I don't got no good sense.

Moral of the story - it's #BaeApproved.

If you could reach through the screen and feel the softness...

Key benefits
Packed with aloe vera, glycerin, olive oil, agave, kalahari melon butter, pracaxi oil, and flaxseed gel, this botanical powerhouse moisturizes, enhances shine, and smooths the cuticle to help retain hydration inside the hair.

Oh, and your hair will literally smell amazing.

I can't tell you how much good the beach did for my soul. Thanks to Marula-Melon Moisture Guru, on day 4 of 7, I was encouraged to:

• Get out and re-connect with my own back yard
• Take time out and marvel at God's creation
• Stop waiting on others to take me where I know I need to go (both literally and metaphorically)

This was literally the perfect beach day. Photo by The Flatlay Photog

Laaaaa, la, la-la wait til' I get these muscles right... Photo by The Flatlay Photog

This may come as a surprise, but I have a love-kinda-dont-like relationship with the gym.

Although I've definitely got a penchant for lifting heavy things, I wasn't always interested in testing the upper limits of my strength, much less setting foot into a gym.  In fact, like many of us - sweating out my hair used to be my #1 workout deterrent.

Going natural definitely helped me find my lane, in more ways than one. Once I mastered the wash & go, I realized I didn't really care for too many other styles. My wash & go allowed me the flexibility to rock my hair the way I liked, without worrying too much about my workout ruining my style.

There are some days where I absolutely LOVE working out - my #GymWerk playlist is hitting all the right songs on shuffle, my pre-workout has kicked in, lifting heavy gives me a rush, and I feel like I can take over the world. When my curls are acting right, I get a similar feeling.

Single arm kettlebell swings... WHEW! Photo by The Flatlay Photog

But that doesn't mean I don't have bad hair days, or that I don't lose steam in the gym. It's quite the contrary.

I have tons of bad hair days, and days where I'm envious of someone else's texture or length.

I have plenty of days where I'd I'd rather drink wine, eat Root Beer Glazed Wings from BJ's and watch LHHATL while I lay in bed. And days where I'm in the gym, upset with my lack of progress compared to somebody else's.

And in between those extremes, are weeks and sometimes months where I find myself just meandering through - neither abased or abound. To me, those days are the most dangerous. Those are the times where complacency takes root, and ultimately lead to the undoing of all my hard work.

Before the start of 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals, I felt myself sinking into that place. If I'm really honest about it, I was just about to check-in to my room.

My hair wasn't acting right, and I was just going through the motions at the gym.

Then, God pretty much told me to check my attitude and perspective at the door. Conventional wisdom told me not to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results. If I wanted to see something new with my hair, and in the gym - I was going to have to do something different.

Charlie Mike combines heavy lifting and functional movements...My best friend and biggest foe. Lol. Photo by The Flatlay Photog

I picked up God's not-so-subtle hints and challenged myself to get uncomfortable with a new workout plan called #CharlieMike. I also reminded myself that coming to love and embrace my textures is a part of self care. Being covetous or envious of what someone else has - whether it be on their head or in the gym - is counterproductive to my own sense of well-being. On top of that, it's wasted energy that gets me no closer to my own goals.

#CharlieMike is no joke - but I'll be so proud of myself 5 weeks from now.

Top two most hated exercises: lunges and burpees. But I'm doin' em. Photo by The Flatlay Photog

Inspired by my new found re-commitment to self care in the gym, I picked up Soultanicals Frizz Whiz Curl Defining Leave-In and Sprung Coil Boosting Gelly. If I was gonna go hard as the hood I'm from in the gym (sorry, it's on my #GymWerk playlist 😂), the wash & go is where I'm gonna be.

I don't know what Ayo did...but these two new products gave me the kick I needed to to work with my fifty-leven curl patterns and make them all pop.

These two... I'll tell ya. Photo by The Flatlay Photog

Frizz Whiz Curl Defining Leave-In

What it is
A moisturizing leave-in conditioner that detangles and helps capture the curl pattern while wet, to enhance definition in styling by smoothing the cuticle and minimizing frizz.

How I used it
In the shower, of course! I applied Frizz Whiz to my hair in 4 sections, finger combing it through for even distribution.

Key benefits
Although the ingredient list is pretty short and sweet, Frizz Whiz packs a botanical punch. Slippery Elm and Irish Moss provide slip for detangling while enhancing shine, soothing the scalp, and strengthening the fibers of the hair. Beet sugar doubles up on the strength, while helping to boost elasticity, smooth the cuticle, and help prevent breakage during styling.

Can you tell it's love?

Sprung Coil Boosting Gelly

What it is
A medium-strong (meaning: not ramen noodle crunchy, but not 'who's hair is this for?!' light, either) botanically-based curl definer designed to define and enhance coily and kinky textures. It helps reduce frizz and promotes clumping of coils and curls for extremely shrinkage-prone hair.

How I used it
Click here to watch the video on how I defined my curls.

Key benefits
Sprung Coil Boosting Gelly contains a follicle-fortifying blend of nettle, saw palmetto, and horsetail, along with wheat germ and jojoba oils for moisture and elasticity. I notice an immediate difference when applying Sprung to my curls, as you saw in the video. Frizz, gone. Curl clumpage, lit. Ayo put her foot in this one, for sure.

3 days and a few workouts later...still poppin'.

Day 3's lesson in self care, brought to me by Frizz Whiz and Sprung, helped me remember that:

• Trying something new is one of the best ways to get myself out of a funk.
• I'll always be better off redirecting jealousy/envy into energy to care for and better myself.

Catch up with the entire 7 Days of Self Care with Soultanicals series here!

Manicures & deep conditioning have a lot in common.

If you follow me on Snapchat (maneobjective), then you know my latest non-hair and gym hobby is giving myself manicures. Several months ago, I gave up trips to the nail shop because I always found myself shilling out $30-40 for mediocre nail jobs that chipped 3 days later.

I don't know about your local shops, but the ones in LA will nickel and dime you to death. $15 pedicure upsell for a subpar scrub. $5 (gel) polish removal. $5 for a design on one nail. $10 if you want gel. $7 if you sneeze while they're working.

That last one was a bit extreme, but you get my point.

A trip to the nail shop adds up fast - and factor in traffic to get there, looking for parking, and waiting to be seen - and the experience just ends up causing more stress than it's worth.

Some months ago I chanced upon a Sensationail gel polish starter kit (complete with lamp, top/base coat, primer, wipes, and polish color) on clearance at Target. I hadn't painted my own nails since I was a kid, and the only knowledge I had of using gel came from watching nail techs. Even still, my stubborn spirit wouldn't let me back down from the challenge. I did manicure after manicure, practicing and tinkering until my results got decent.

A small sampling of my at-home nail salon.

I added cuticle trimmers, nail files, buffers, more colors, and even the Kiss PowerFile electronic nail file/sander/buffer - and now basically, I've got a portable nail shop in my linen closet.

What started as a movement out of spite, transformed into an act of self care - and here's how.

Manicures require patience, focus, time, and meticulous attention to the tiniest of details. While giving myself a manicure, I literally cannot focus on anything else. Both of my hands are tied up, and I'm forced to slow down. I've got to steady my hand and pay close attention to every step. Soak. Remove polish. Soak again. Trim cuticles. Clean under nails. File. Buff. Prime. Paint.

Bright and summery, inspired by Afrotastic Curl Elastic.

Because manicures force me to stop multitasking and move slow, I've learned to take it all in as a moment to treat and look after myself. There's something therapeutic about taking a deep breath, steadying my hand, and coating my nail in polish. And even though I'm not a certified pro (I definitely make tons of mistakes), the results always look good enough for me to wear proudly. I've gotten lots of compliments on my nails lately, and a few inquiries on how I keep them nice all the time - considering that I work out so much.

I get the same questions about my hair - how do I keep it together when I work out as often as I do? While preserving my hair during workouts definitely plays a part, what I do to my hair before I even set foot into a gym matters more.

Weekly deep conditioning sessions has been my natural hair's saving grace.

Such a treat for my curls. Pardon my left eye, I got shampoo in it while rinsing.

Afrotastic Curl Elastic

What it is
You guys know that I'm no stranger to Afrotastic Curl Elastic. It's been a Christina's Choice winner two years in a row, and one of my absolute deep conditioning staples. It's a super fruity botanically-based deep conditioner infused with some of the best ingredients for hair and scalp care - like rosemary, burdock root, amla, aloe vera, and avocado oil. The consistency is super creamy and smooth, with great slip for easy detangling and penetration into the hair.

How I used it
With the same meticulous concentration as a manicure, I treated my tresses to a deep conditioning session with Afrotastic Curl Elastic. Smoothing and applying in small sections. Admiring each unique coil, curl and wave as I removed tangles. Sitting under my hooded dryer for 30 minutes. Rinsing gently. After rinsing, my hair was tangle-free, soft, shiny, and smooth.

Key benefits
Afrotastic Curl Elastic is one of my favorite deep conditioners, because it works exceptionally well across the multiple textures of my hair. Gentle heat helps Afrotastic penetrate my lower porosity sections, imparting them with moisture-rich oils and botanicals like olive, avocado. At the same time, aloe and jojoba protein helps to smooth and strengthen my hair from root to end while restoring elasticity, balancing the pH, and calming frizz.

Day 2's lesson in self care, courtesy of Afrotastic Curl Elastic was a colorful reminder:

• To ease up off the gas pedal and take my time. Not everything has to be done quick, fast, and in a hurry.
• That whether it be for a manicure, deep conditioning, or even cooking a meal - when you take the time and do it right, the end results always show it.