The (Brown) Skin I'm In

As the summer heat bears down, my deep brown skin gets even browner. Although dark skin often is overlooked in conversations about beauty, I believe that healthy skin is a sight to behold. It's important to take care of your skin and protect it against the harmful effects of the environment.

Here are some quick skin care tips:

1. Clean your skin: Don't use harsh soaps to remove built up residue. You shouldn't use the same products on your face that you use on your body. Find a skin cleansing routine that works for your skin. I find that pricey facial products don't always live up to the hype. Research natural products and remedies that are safe and effective.

2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Oh yeah, and moisturize.

3. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of (non-bottled)water. Staying hydrated helps improve skin's elasticity.

4. Seek out a dermatologist for skin concerns. Everything can't be solved by at home treatment. Sometimes you have to seek out professional advice.

5. Wear sunscreen if you are going outside. No one is immune to the harsh effects of the sun.

6. Remove all makeup before going to bed. Sleeping in makeup clogs your pores and can cause breakouts and inflammation.

Whatever your skin color or type, it's important to take good care of your skin. Let's celebrate the beauty of healthy skin. Here's one of my favorite songs about beautiful brown skin (and love). Enjoy!!

From the Soul Question: Who Are You Really?

In order to get to the core of who you are, you must know who you are. This seems like such a small question, but do you know who you really are? Are you walking around being someone that other folks want you to be? Introspection and honesty must work in tandem so that you can uncover, discover and relish in your authentic self...so again I ask: who are you really?

Soul Satisfying Music "Dealing" by Eric Roberson featuring Lalah Hathaway

Music calms the savage beast or so the story is told. Even if it's not all the way true, music does resonate in ways that other art forms can't. There is an immediacy of music that can't be compared. Coupled with visual aspects, the music video is satisfying on so many levels. Speaking of satisfaction, "Soul Satisfying Music" highlights music that touches me to my soul. Here are two soul singers who may not be on your radios, but after hearing their music, you will wonder what took you so long to discover them. For the enlightened ones who are hip to these singers and this song, you know the beauty of their vocals. Enjoy!!

Planning, Planning, Planning...

I want this to be a wonderfully rich experience for my readers. I have been doing some work on the layout and design of this blog. In my head, I have been trying to come up with the focus for Soulstainable Living. I have decided that it will be a lifestyle blog. I will share what I know, want to know, like, think, feel, question, have observed, need to know about whatever. I plan to post several times a week, so check back often to see what's new. 

I have been an avid blog reader for many years and will try to incorporate the best of the blogs I love into this site. Over the next few weeks, I will work on tweaking the site to make it user-friendly and relevant. So pardon my dust and stick around for the long haul because this blog is the first step in the Soulstainable Living movement. Get down now, so you can say you knew me when ;-)

What is Soulstainable Living?

Welcome to my first post on this blog. What is Soulstainable Living? In these economically and environmentally challenging times, we are all encouraged to practice sustainable living so we can reduce our harmful effects on the environment. Well, Soulstainable Living embodies that same philosophy but focuses more on people. Being your best self, living your most authentic life so you can reduce the toxins that you deposit on your soul--that's Soulstainable Living.

How many of us are living unfulfilled lives full of "I wish I could have" and "I should have" moments? Well, surprisingly, I'm not. I'm living a life of satisfaction and I want to share that with you. Is my life perfect *station break while I laugh hysterically*, um NO, it isn't. BUT, I have found the secret to my personal brand of happiness. And I want to share that with you. I am not sure if this will be a parenting blog, a political blog, a literary blog or what. However, I do know that it will be a PERSONAL blog. I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but as I see it *excuse this interruption, but you know there is gonna be some foolishness jumping off.* Basically, this is my blog and my opinions are not attached to my job or any outside associations I may have. I OWN these words and they are mine alone.

Soulstainable Living--come in and look around. I hope you enjoy what you read, but if you don't--shut the heck up and leave; don't pollute my space with your toxic energy. Ohm! Oh yeah, please and thank you.

I look forward to getting to know you and having you get to know me through these posts. Please be patient  as I learn to navigate the blog waters. I'm just sticking my big toe in to see if the sharks are out.

Welcome...