I have so much admiration for the style bloggers at the top of their game. I’m talking about Gabifresh and Style Pantry, Karen of Where Did U Get That and Eileen of Miss Whoever You Are. Girl With Curves and Marie Denee The Curvy Fashionista. Nicolette Mason and Le Blog de Big Beauty. ChiTown Fashionista and The Sassy Peach. Claire of The Fashion Bomb. Angel on Fire of Concrete Loop. These are women who seem to effortlessly be able to put together an outfit. These are women who I turn to for fashion inspiration when I need it. And I need it often.

Sometimes it takes me a while to plan an outfit. It requires forethought and often, I get stressed out while thinking about it. When I’m traveling for an event, at least three or four days before I take the time to sit and come up with a complete outfit itinerary for my trip — including shoes and accessories. It is that serious.

I’ve always had strong opinions of what I’d like to wear, and I love beautiful clothes. But sometimes I feel stuck. Like many of you, I wind up standing in front of an overstuffed closet lamenting that I have “nothing to wear.” And I realize that’s because I have many options but sometimes I struggle to put things together. At times I’ve found myself unsure of what I would define as MY STYLE, and I know I’m not the only woman who has felt that way.

That’s where Pinterest comes in. Pinterest has helped me get a visual idea of my style that’s become really helpful in deciding what to buy, where to shop, and what my style is evolving into, now that I’m a woman in my early thirties.

What do I share on My Style board? Items I own, or items I’d like to own. Some of it’s aspirational, some of it’s affordable. It’s a vision board of clothes and accessories and women who inspire me to put it all together and turn it out every time I need to.

My Style Inspiration board is more about the famous faces through history who inspire me to look and live as fiercely as possible.

This week is full of MAJOR events I’ll be attending and I had a momentary lapse in style confidence. Then I looked at my Pinterest boards and then my closet, which I took the time to reorganize recently — I need to write a post on THAT because it’s a project in itself! And now I feel like I GOT THIS. Will share my pics on Twitter so you can let me know if I got it right!

Are you into Pinterest? Click here to follow my boards and leave your Pinterest link in the comments!

And for beauty inspiration via Pinterest, check out this post by India Jewel-Jackson over at Fashionista.com – 10 Beauty Boards You Should Be Following on Pinterest!

Where do you turn for style inspiration, bellas?

22 years ago, the world lost a genius. Jim Henson left this realm on May 16, 1990.

I was a big fan of his work, from The Muppet Show and Sesame Street to Labryinth and The Dark Crystal. My brothers LOVED The Dark Crystal so much, our first dog was named Fizzgig!

Recently I watched Being Elmo on Netflix, which is all about the amazing Kevin Clash. If you’re a fan of the Muppets in general and the genius that went into creating them, it’s a MUST see.

It’s amazing that something Jim Henson dreamed up in the Fifties remains with us today, in movies and on television, entertaining and educating children around the world. What a beautiful thing. Thank you, Jim Henson, for changing the world in such a magical and meaningful way. Your legacy will live forever.

Which was your favorite of Jim Henson’s creations? Were you a Sesame Street fan? The original Muppet Show? Were you into Fraggle Rock, or Dinosaurs? Were you as obsessed with David Bowie in Labryinth as I was? Tell me!

I remember when I was a teenager, a classmate of mine made a joke about my family. “It’s like you have four mothers,” my friend said. I’m sure it was in response to me complaining about not being able to do something or go somewhere. Either way, my friend’s statement stuck with me and back in those days, it did feel that way.

Of course there’s my mom, Peggy. But it truly does take a village to raise a child, so allow me to introduce you to the rest of my village.

From left to right – my big sister Petal, who was the person responsible for encouraging me to be a reader and a writer. So many of my childhood memories are of just me and her, going to the bookstore or library or just driving around St. James and Port of Spain with her. Petal comments frequently on the blog as Pets, so some of you have encountered her before, maybe without knowing! My big sister helped to raise me into the person I am today. AND she’s one of the best real estate agents in Trinidad so if you need a real estate agent, contact her!

My mom’s in the green cardigan and navy dress. Then in front of me is my niece Dominique – Little Afrobella has grown up!

Aunty Gemma is to my right – longtime readers of the site will remember her from this post about her dealing with breast cancer. She’s doing great! Aunty Gemma is still teaching piano lessons and sharing a love of music with her students every day (including my nieces)!

Aunty Opal is in the coral top with the green bag and she’s really the de facto caretaker of the kids in the family. My mom always was a busy, working mom with a demanding career. Aunty Opal is the one who I came home from school to watch Sesame Street with, who made delicious Chelsea Buns on our special occasions, and who was always there with a snack or a hug when I needed one before my mom came home from work. 

And next to her is my other niece, Isabella! She’s such a little cutie

These women helped to raise me and steer me on the right path in life. They are always there for me when I need them, and all I hope to ever do is to make them proud. I think I’m doing alright so far!

And this is my whole family!

From left to right:

Back row – my big brother Dominic, my dad, my husband Steve, my big brother Patrick, and Ken the very sweet and accomodating owner of the Chinese Dragon restaurant in Debe, Trinidad.

Second row – my sister Petal, my mom, me, Aunty Gemma and Aunty Opal.

Front row – Dominique and Isabella

And today they’re all gathering together to celebrate Mother’s Day. I’m about to call home and let them know just how much I love them, and that I wish I could be there to celebrate with them.

Whether you’re a mother with your own kids, or you’ve adopted a family, or if you’re a loving sister or aunt or grandma who really plays a motherly role in the lives of little ones, I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for all you have done to shape a child’s life! It ALL counts. Thank you for being part of someone’s village. You’re more appreciated than you may know.

Happy Mother’s Day, bellas!!!

Everyone has benchmarks for themselves, and aspirations they develop as their career grows. For me as a young teenage writer living in Trinidad, I wanted to write books and I wanted to write for magazines. I decided early on two of them I wanted to contribute to – Rolling Stone and Caribbean Beat. Rolling Stone being Rolling Stone, and Caribbean Beat being the official airline magazine of Trinidad and Tobago, the magazine in every back pocket of a BWIA (which is now Caribbean Airlines) plane seat.

I wanted to write for Caribbean Beat because the best known writers of the diaspora contributed to its pages and their articles were always engaging and great. It’s like the best writers of the Caribbean writing about the most significant Caribbean luminaries and experts in their respective fields. But despite my efforts, it never happened – maybe because I don’t live in Trinidad anymore, and I wasn’t there to make the right connections? My e mails never seemed to land in the right inbox, or never got any meaningful response. Through the years, I pitched one or two stories there but my career has taken me in a different direction. I began to focus less on pitching to print and more on building my name and reputation online. And now, instead of writing FOR Caribbean Beat, I’ve found myself being written ABOUT in the pages of Caribbean Beat. Which is a wonderful turn of events indeed.

This story has been in the works for a WHILE now – the brilliant writer, Kari Cobham, has been working on this for a minute, but various Caribbean magazines hadn’t yet heard about me or didn’t express significant interest. And finally, here we are – entirely thanks to Kari’s believing in me and my story. I’m SO EXCITED to see this in PRINT!

For the article she interviewed my dear friends Felicia Leatherwood and Kim Coles, both of whom said such amazing things about me that I really need to take them both out for dinner and drinks ASAP, LOVE these women!! My sisters from other misters! AND she interviewed my parents! Mama and Papa Bella could be a whole article by themselves, I know – Kari did such a great job of putting it all together. When I first read it, I cried. I did. Because it means so much to me to be recognized in my own country, by my own people. If you’re flying on Caribbean Airlines in May to June, you’ll get to see it. OR you can click here to read it online!

The accompanying photos were by Chuck Olu-Alabi – we did a shoot at my apartment just for the occasion! I kept it very Trini for my outfit. I’m wearing:

Earrings and bracelet by We Dream in Colour, an amazing jewelry line by Trinidadian designer Jade Gedeon.

Necklace by Eloquii – their accessories are great quality!

Cocktail ring by Max and Chloe.

Dress and sleeveless cardigan M Squared by renowned Trinidadian designer Meiling – this is her affordable line that’s available at Micles stores in Trinidad. I bought these at Westmall The Falls on my last visit home.

Other photos in the issue are by Krystle Rowry of KrissDidIt.com!

Thank you, Kari and thank you Caribbean Beat for making this dream come true! Next stop, Rolling Stone!

Just kidding

My cat Max has been featured on Afrobella before – remember how little and cute he was when he first scampered into my life? Awwwww kitten! And now here he is, 15 pounds of FUN.

Life has changed so much for my furbaby since then.

Max was a Miami suburban street kitten, and he lived an indoor/outdoor life. Then he became more of an indoor cat, who’d run away and climb trees the second he could. Then we moved and he went from the sultry heat of Miami to a 12 acre spread in North Carolina, to a sad garage in Chicagoland for a little bit, and now here we are. Max is a high rise condo cat in downtown Chicago, and spends much of his day staring longingly out of the window at the birds that occasionally fly by. When he sleeps and his whiskers twitch and he makes little kitty noises, I am sure he’s dreaming of climbing trees, killing lizards, and hiding their bodies in my shoes (as he used to often do).

To make up for Max’s lack of outdoor fun, I let him get a good whiff of outside air every day – right now as I write this, he’s curled up by the screen and soaking it up. Because of high rise syndrome, he’s not allowed on the balcony. And to compensate for the lack of running around and climbing he used to do, Max now has quite the cat toy collection. He’s got a corner of our apartment so decked out with cat stuff, I’m sure even Jackson Galaxy would approve.

Max is a cat of strong opinion and particular taste. He only wants the Fancy Feast with the gravy – he hates that classic stuff and he won’t even sniff the high end Science Diet wet food I used to buy for him (but he’s addicted to their dry food). He won’t touch the lovely cat scratcher a friend gave us, but he’s all about the Bergan Turbo Track Toy. He’s obsessed with that thing.

When he wants attention or food, he’ll walk around banging our cupboard doors open and closed until we come over to deal with the situation. In the wee hours of the morning if he’s out of food, he will climb on my dresser and knock my lipsticks and necklaces on the ground until I get up and feed him. Despite that being EXTREMELY annoying, I still think he’s super cute and I put up with his shenanigans. That’s kitty love.

When the folks behind the Skratchkabin contacted me to see if Max would be interested in reviewing their scratching device/kitty abode, I said yes but with some reservations. It can take Max a while to show interest in new toys – if that interest ever makes itself apparent. I thought I took a while to familiarize myself with a product. It can take this cat even longer. BUT when we opened the Skratchkabin and set it up, there was interest!

Interest in examining this thing from all sides. I think part of Max’s concerns is the fact that there’s a back to the Skratchkabin. He doesn’t like being penned in with no chance of escape. He likes the mouse, because it’s big and tough and he loves using his back legs to wreak as much havoc as possible. It was REALLY easy for him to detach the hanger and the mouse from the front. We’ve had the Skratchkabin for a few weeks now and he’s only been inside of it twice, and that’s with the encouragement of treats.

So as a cat igloo/bed/hideaway, Max isn’t sold yet. BUT as a scratching device, he LOVES it. The Skratchkabin has definitely been helpful in giving him a surface to take out those feline instincts and aggressions, and he’s been better about leaving our furniture and shoes alone. Which is AWESOME. Because my leather office chair has had ENOUGH.

The Skratchkabin is $99 – which isn’t bad as far as cat furniture goes — and is available at KatKabin.com. They’re on Twitter @KatKabinUSA.

Are you a cat owner? No? Why not? Cats are AWESOME pets! If you’re looking to rescue a lucky kitty cat and give him or her a forever home, visit The Shelter Pet Project to find a shelter in your neighborhood.

I’ll admit it, I can be really sensitive about anything hair related. I’m not a fan of afro wigs on Halloween or unsolicited touching of natural hair or insensitive remarks about hair texture or type. I am all about celebrating what I’ve been blessed with. Because I love my own hair, I sometimes collect natural hair related items that I think are cool or cute or funny. When I saw the Diva Washing Up Sponge by UK based quirky home décor purveyor Paladone on Fab.com (I tell you I am ADDICTED to that site!) I didn’t think twice. I bought her right away, just to add her to my collection o’ fros.

And now the Diva Washing Up Sponge is sitting on my desk and staring at me impassively as I read about the ongoing UK controversy over her existence.

Via the Daily Mail:

“Campaigners have attacked British makers Paladone for its latest range of dish cleaning products which caricatures black soul legend Diana Ross as having a brillo pad for a hairstyle. The offending items, which have just gone on sale across the UK, have been likened to reproducing golliwogs or the Black and White Minstrels by reinforcing negative stereotypes.

The Unite Against Fascism general secretary Weyman Bennett said: ‘What are we going to have next, toilet brushes like that? ‘This is not appropriate for the 21st century to show images like that. It reinforces negative stereotypes and ideas. Although it’s aimed at being humorous, sometimes it’s not funny.”

Now I feel all conflicted and stuff.

Please note the Diva Washing Up Sponge is part of a complete set – there’s also Disco, Punk and Groovy.

Also, the sponge I bought is called the Diva and not Diana – that’s a whole ‘nother story. Let’s keep Miss Ross out of such affairs.

I bought the Diva Washing Up sponge because I thought she was super cool and I didn’t plan to use her, just to keep her as a fun collectible. Clutch Magazine seems to agree with me – these sponges are more cute than offensive. But I want to know what you think, bellas – does the Diva sponge make you mad? Or not so much?

What do you think, bellas? Comment in the discussion box below for a chance to win gift cards and other fun prizes.

When I think back on the earliest songs I knew and my earliest childhood memories, Bob Marley is there as the soundtrack. In my mind’s eye, I can remember seeing news footage of his funeral on Panorama, Trinidad’s national news program when I was a kid. Of course, I was only three. This may be one of the memories we create for ourselves.

 Photo by Kim Gottleib-Walker.

My father did a masters degree at the University of West Indies in Jamaica in 1981/1982. He returned with an armful of reggae albums – Bob Marley, Lone Ranger, Michigan and Smiley, Eek a Mouse, and Dennis Brown. We had almost all of Bob’s albums on vinyl – from Burnin’ on through to Uprising. I can still see myself, sliding the large black disc carefully from the album sleeve, carefully putting the needle down, then sitting back to soak in Bob Marley’s music. I remember singing Redemption Song so loud that one of my big brothers could hear me downstairs, and when he came upstairs he was too happy to let me know I got the words wrong. I made a point to learn the words, then.

Bob Marley’s music is part of the fabric of island life. You grow up with his music always lilting somewhere in the background, wafting out of a parlor or from a vendor’s cart, or a passing car. Because his music is so ubiquitous, it’s easy to overlook his most popular songs and feel like you know everything there is to know about him. I knew most of the information presented in Kevin Macdonald’s new documentary, Marley, which hits theaters, iTunes and On Demand today, April 20 – in a stroke of brilliant marketing and timing. I knew the information, but the presentation blew me away.

I got to see a screener a week ago or so. I went into the Marley documentary thinking I knew what I’d be seeing and it would be great. I left realizing that assuming you know and SEEING this man’s life play out before you is two totally different things. I left feeling all kinds of feelings – proud, empowered, heartbroken, grieving, but still in absolute awe. I left the theater convinced that EVERYONE needs to see Marley. Not just the college kids and the already converted fans. EVERYONE. Especially those who don’t know about the man and his message, and just think of him as ganja, good times and One Love. Because Bob Marley was so, so much more than that.

Obviously there can be no spoilers for a film like Marley, that’s like saying there’s spoilers for the end of Titanic or something. Everyone knows the end of this movie is going to be tragic. But there are revelations in seeing the tragedy unfold, and seeing how valiantly and desperately Bob fought to save his own life. It’s the part of his life that nobody else got to see, before now. The trip to Bavaria. Bob Marley in all of that snow, shorn of his crowning glory. Images that hit you square in the chest. And before that, the beginning – the life of struggle and poverty in Nine Miles and then Trench Town, the cameras traveling from First Street to Second Street, and then trodding on to Third Street as Bob did in Natty Dread.

I am only 33 and I don’t wanna sound like a grandma, but I wish more of today’s musicians and music consumers – the kids buying new music these days – would see this film. In his 36 years of life, Bob Marley made music that MEANT something. Music that seizes the heart and the waistline and makes you want to move and groove, with lyrics that spoke to struggle and poverty, injustice and righteousness, positivity and love. Music that directly addressed society’s ills. Music intent to provoke change.

I went to the screening with the homie Luvvie, and when we were leaving she was lamenting the state of music today. She was like “music isn’t ABOUT anything anymore.” My view is that nowadays popular music is about the self. It’s about how much I’ve got, how much of a gangsta/cool cat/sex kitten I am, how many expensive designer things I own, where I’ve been in the world, me me me. And before, there were people like Bob Marley who were making music about the world, and trying to make a difference in your own culture and society. I wish more of today’s popular, chart topping musicians would try to be more like Bob.

Marley shows a real, heartfelt portrayal of the man behind the Legend. Friends and family, the musicians he cut his teeth with, former lovers and baby mothers, and even Bob’s own children Cedella and Ziggy, share their memories. We learn that Bob Marley was a man of firm beliefs and expectations, a competitive and tough and seriously dedicated man, generous to a fault and aware of his position in the world.  He had crazy charisma and the ladies couldn’t help but fall for him, because despite the talent and the handsome visage, he was shy and introspective. It seemed that even when Bob was on the come up, he knew where he was going. He always had a message to be delivered around the world, to millions.

It’s amazing to see the journey – from Burnin’ and the struggles within the Wailers, to touring the world and performing before increasingly large and rapt audiences. It was fascinating to hear that Bob yearned to reach an African American audience that wasn’t yet feeling reggae all the way. He opened for The Commodores at a time that it should have been vice versa, just to reach a black audience in the USA.

What were the flaws of the Marley documentary? There weren’t many, but I must say, as someone who grew up so steeped in the music, I felt that the contributions of Peter Tosh were downplayed – despite the beef that simmered between the two men, they enjoyed tremendous creativity together and inspired the world together.

The crowd reaction really got to me at times – Americans are so quick to laugh at an accent that’s different, and it took me back to freshman year of college when I felt insecurity and pressure to adapt the way I spoke in order to be more clearly understood. I wanted to tell the annoying row of people behind me, HEY if you listen and stop giggling, you would clearly understand what everyone in the film was saying. Subtitles did help for some, though. I can’t lie.

Rita Marley makes a statement about melanoma in the film that troubled me, because the moment I heard her say it I knew it was untrue and also a possibly dangerous statement. It made me want to stand up in the theater and say “people that is incorrect.” Melanoma can affect anyone, regardless of ethnicity. I’ll be doing a series on skin cancer for people of color in May and I just interviewed one of Chicago’s best dermatologists, so this is a topic especially close to me right now. Please know that cancer never discriminates and we all need to be wise about that..

Even though the film was beyond amazing, I still wanted more. I wanted to see more of Bob Marley’s children – especially at the film’s end, because they are his truest legacy. I wanted to see Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Julian Marley, Ky-Mani, Rohan – all of them. Even if it was just a group photograph. Something to show how his music and his physical likeness lives on through his children.

It’s been a week or so since I’ve seen Marley, and tonight, I am SO looking forward to seeing it again. This is a film I want to own on Blu-Ray and share with my family, it’s a film that will bear repeated viewings, and a film that I hope will inspire future generations. There will never be another Bob Marley. But the world can always use more people who were inspired by his music and his message.

Today and this weekend, in darkened movie theaters, college dorms, frat houses and homes across America, fans of Marley’s music will get to soak in the undiluted truth of this musical prophet amongst men. That in itself is a glorious and beautiful thing.

For a list of theaters where Marley will be shown, click here — and it’s also available On Demand and on iTunes!

Click here to visit the official website for Marley, click here to check out their Facebook page, and click here to follow them on Twitter.

On any average day — especially in the mornings — my Twitter timeline and Pinterest page are full of juice. Juice recipes, tweets about starting the day with a green juice or smoothie, photos of delicious looking, vibrantly colored juices. Juicing is huge right now. Huge to the point where, when I went to buy a juicer at Macy’s recently, the saleslady told me “you better buy it right now cause once these are gone, we ain’t getting no more in a hurry.” And I knew she was right because literally the Breville juicers disappeared off Macys.com the day before and there were just five left, hidden under a table in the basement of Macy’s on State.

What is the DEAL with the juicing? < /Seinfeld voice>

I was already intrigued by just the idea of drinking my quota of fruits and veggies for a day, but then I started seeing more and more of my friends go on juice cleanses. But wait.

What’s a juice cleanse?

Basically you only drink vegetable and fruit juice for as long as you’re willing to do it. Most cleanses are three days, five days, or a week. But Riana Lynn, owner of Peeled Chicago told me, she’s known some diehard juicers to go on juice cleanses of 30 days or more. I’m sorry, but 30 days with no solid food sounds crazy to me. And when Riana offered me the opportunity to try a three day Peeled Chicago juice cleanse, I didn’t know if I could make it. But I decided to try. Go brave.

Why did I decide to try a juice cleanse?

– it seemed like the thing to do/everyone is doing it/I’m a health lemming

– from the reading I’ve done it seemed like a healthy life decision

- I wanted to see if I could do it. I lack discipline to a shameful level

– I was offered the opportunity and I wanted to share the experience with you all!

I didn’t think my reasons were good enough, so I had to ask Riana, what are the benefits of doing a juice cleanse?

“There are a range of benefits that come from juice cleansing. Of course, many people come to Peeled for a “quick fix,” as in repairing from a stretch of processed and junk foods high in fats or sugars. There are a lot of customers that want to lose a few lbs or clear their skin before a vacation or wedding. At Peeled, we want our customers to think long-term. Juicing can improve your immune system, clear skin, and more. It is just a great and tasty way to re-invigorate your system. Our juice can help improve digestion and remove toxins. These things can help with a range of health issues and help prevent the onset of diseases such as diabetes and cancer. It is not just the hip thing to do, it is about preparing your body for long-term success with good health,” she explained. Ah. Gotcha!

My juice cleanse was for three days. Each day included six juices, to be consumed in specific order. The kinds of juices were switched up a little during each day. Green juice made with kale, spinach, apple, celery and ginger. Maroon juice made with beets. A Haute Lemonade that was super tart, spicy and not very sweet — not like the lemonade we usually drink! Young coconut water which was so sweet and good, LOVED that. And the last drink of the day was cashew milk, which if you’ve ever done a juice cleanse, you know it’s heaven in a bottle. Creamy and sweet and nurturing and YUM. The day would always begin with green juice, then end with cashew milk.

If you don’t like green juices or vegetable based juices, then obviously this isn’t for you. I didn’t like green juices when I first tried them, but I know how good they are for me and I know that I need more veggies in my life. And now, I honestly love them. The quick veggie fix is part of why Riana says juicing is so popular these days. “…Unfortunately, Americans do not love vegetables. We are a foodie and fast-food nation. It is a great thing to have fast-food and superfoods all in one mix. It’s always good to focus on incorporating raw foods and juicing into a diet, as well.”

On day one of my juice cleanse, I felt proud of myself by juice three. By juice four on day one, I was HONGRY with an O. I didn’t think I was gonna make it. I was already thinking of all the leftovers in my fridge I was gonna smash and then I said to myself IT IS DAY ONE. Make it through at least one day! So I did. I went to bed really early, just because I needed to stop thinking about food and how delicious it is.

On day two of my juice cleanse I woke up feeling happy and lighthearted and I noticed the thing everyone says — juices make you energetic! I felt very positive and full of energy. I found myself doing tasks I’d put off around the house. I went to the post office. I felt good! I did feel hungry in the afternoon — any time between 3 and 6 pm, I felt those familiar hunger pangs coming back. But I made it through and I felt really good about that.

People kept telling me that if I made it to day three, it would be a breeze…and that wasn’t my experience. I was still hungry and was actively looking forward to day four, in which I could eat food again! Towards the end of day three, I was ready to end the cleanse but I definitely noticed the benefits of being on it. Let me tell y’all about THOSE.

Doing the juice cleanse made me aware again.

I had fallen into the habit of eating without thinking. I would serve myself huge portions and eat while watching TV or browsing the internet…I wasn’t conscious of the physical act of eating. The act of consuming nutrients. I didn’t THINK about the fact that is what food is. Nutrition. I was eating what tasted good and what my body was conditioned to crave, and many of those things are bad for me. Complex carbohydrates, white flour, white sugar, highly processed things, salty things, sweet things. Things with minimal nutritional value, at best. Doing the three day juice cleanse helped me realize I didn’t need any of it. You know how you wake up in the morning and say “oooh I need a hot cup of tea or coffee with all these sweetners in it?” Well, you don’t say THAT, but that’s basically what it is. And you don’t need it. You just think you do. You’re conditioned to think you do. Doing the juice cleanse helped me realize that I didn’t need to start my morning with a hot cup of sugar, which is something I had done my whole life without questioning it. When I finally ate I noticed how much food has to do with touch and feeling. I noticed how food felt while I consumed it, and how it made me feel after I consumed it. Awareness is beautiful.

Doing the juice cleanse made me realize I was stronger than I thought.

There were many times where I wanted to throw the towel in on the juice cleanse and just eat FOOD. I had these leftover scallops in the fridge…and they were calling my NAME. And at night my husband wanted dinner, obviously…and as he went about preparing himself something hot and highly scented, I thought I was gonna lose it and quit this thing. But I didn’t. I made it through three days and now I know I can do it again. And now I know I can do OTHER things I’ve talked myself out of, too.

Doing the juice cleanse reset my appetite and my cravings.

I didn’t come out of the three days thinking “I’m gonna smang this bag of potato chips!” I came out of it thinking, OK now what do I eat? Foods that were highly appealing to me before (like doughnuts) now seemed unappetizing. On the day after my juice cleanse I ate vegetarian foods as advised. Oatmeal for breakfast, kale salad for lunch, and for dinner my husband and I went to a Mexican restaurant and I was persuaded into having a margarita with my vegetarian tacos, but I didn’t crave it the way I used to, and I only had one. I ate my food slowly. I savored the sensations. I didn’t notice how food tickles the tongue, or feels going down my throat as much before. It was cool to notice and appreciate that.

I did this juice cleanse three weeks ago and in the days afterward, the scale showed a 7 pound loss for me, but of course that was water weight. I actually lost four pounds and gained an appreciation for food as nutrition that I didn’t have before.

What were the downsides of the cleanse?

I had to pee All. The. Time. So on afternoon two I decided to walk to the post office and back….and I tell y’all Jesus was with me because I was about to embarrass myself in downtown Chicago and that would not have been ok!

If you aren’t eating food, you don’t want to see pictures of yummy food. So avoid Pinterest because it will just piss you off.

Also, it’s not fun to go out and be social when you’re on a juice cleanse. Most social events involve cocktails or food, and it’s just temptation all around you. I don’t need that when I’m feeling weak!

What’s my advice for anyone who’s considering a juice cleanse for the first time?

Take the time beforehand to check your calendar. Do you have any special events or places to go to coming up that week? Can you make a lasagna or casserole on the weekend to tide your family over when you’re not going to be eating with them at dinnertime? Think about those life scheduling details. Don’t let them prevent you from trying it though! And don’t be afraid. You can do it! If I can do it, ANYONE CAN.

If you’re in Chicago, you must check out Peeled Chicago! and also follow them on Facebook and like them on Twitter. Thank you, Riana for this amazing opportunity!

Have any of you ever done a juice cleanse? What are your thoughts on the whole thing?