:gasp:

I never imagined, when I applied and then accepted the invitation to enroll in a doctoral program, that it would be THIS intense. I mean, I have already successfully completed a Masters program and it was literally a cinch. I had tough moments, some long nights but all-in-all...I was at the top of my game even while holding down a full time job for the last year of the program.

WoW! how completely different is this experience! Anyway, this post is not to complain about my program. I am honored to be a part of such a program. I've just find myself so busy, and at a point where I don't have time. I could literally wake up at 7ish and begin working after my morning devotion/quiet time and go straight through until 7pm. Of course I take breaks to eat and engage in idle internet surfing but nothing compared to what I was used to. So much so that my hair...my obsession has actually fallen on the list of "important things".

Rest assured, I'm still taking care of my love, just with less passion. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, structure and consistency is a great thing! My routine has become very simple as I summarized here with a set arsenal of products. In the past month or so (since early April), I found most of my products running low and surprisingly, I never found the time to re-stock.

Most items I can pick up at a local grocery store so that is no big deal except my beloved Hairveda Whipped Gelly. Well, after literally scooping the last morsel of gelly on my twists 2 weeks ago, I finally made an effort to reorder. Of course, in my own way, that effort was another FAIL as somehow I left the shopping bag and never completed the order. A week later...I completed the order. Unfortunately (or fortunately) most products are made to order thus there is no such thing as overnight (or even 2 day) delivery.

At this point I'm packing up to head home for the summer (YAY) and get desperate so I try to find something, (1) that's already made, (2) that is not too expensive (3) that seems like it has similar ingredients and (4) consistency to possibly substitute until my goods are ready and delivered to me. I stumble upon Darcy's Botanicals. :shrugs: never heard of them, but I found a product that is a possible 4/4 for my requirements. Well... I forgot to mention that I put down this task (I told you my hair dropped on my list of important things) and never really actually ordered until 4 days after I found it.

So long story short, I'll probably be receiving both products about the same time. The one smart thing I did do, was changed my original order with Darcy's Botanicals from their Natural Coils Curling Jelly - which had a very similar ingredient composition as my beloved Whipped Jelly

KEY INGREDIENTS
Distilled Water, Organic Aloe Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Brown Rice Extract, Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum (Thickeners), Hydrolyzed Oats, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Fragrance & Sea Moss Extract.

to their Avocado and Honey Twisting Creme - which seems much thicker/heavier in consistency.

KEY INGREDIENTS
Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Distilled Water, Avocado Oil, Organic Sustainable Palm Oil, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Vegetable Glycerin, Panthenol, Botanical Oil Complex, Wildflower Honey, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol, Ylang Ylang, and Lemon Essential Oils.

Both are moisturizers and styling products...I just hope that I made a good decision to switch. But I'm very excited. I haven't received it yet, but has received notification of shipping so in another week or two I should be able to give a pre-product review. :-)

cheers!
Gia