Sunday Dinner: Grilled Tuna Steaks

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From my trusty iPhone recipe app: Everyday Food (download HERE)

Or from Martha Stewart's website HERE

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 Tuna steaks, about 6 ounces each (I only used 2 steaks equaling about 1.5 lbs)
• Japanese Marinade
• Salt and Pepper

Directions

1. Heat Grill to high; oil grates.  Place 4 tuna steaks in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag.  Add Japanese Marinade; turn to coat.  Cover; marinate 15 to 30 minutes in refrigerator, turning fish occasionally.
2. Just before grilling, remove from refrigerator; remove tuna from marinade.  Season with salt and pepper.  Grill fish until charred on the outside but still pink inside, 2 to 5 minutes per side.

SN- My side dishes were mashed potatoes and yummy buttered asparagus.  Any leftovers were saved for lunch or dinner for the next day.

Enjoy!!

Christa

Highly Requested Corrine Bailey Rae Hair Tutorial via MsVaughnTV

So after I posted this pic of Corrine Bailey Rae...

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 ...on THIS POST, I've been getting a lot of questions on how to get your hair like this.  Welp I've got an answer and I have even found a video tutorial from one of my fave YOUTUBERS MsVaughnTV!!! This is the style I would like to rock on my wedding day; of course with a small flower or something behind the ear.

Below is the video.  You can also find more tutorials on hair, fashion and makeup by MsVaughn HERE.  I wonder if she can do the makeup for my wedding...  ENJOY!!

Christa

Pescetarian Diet

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So most of you may know that I am on a Pescetarian diet....

Pescetarianism (also spelled Pescatarian) is the practice of a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals.

I started this a little over a month ago and I am still going strong. This is for discipline, health and because I watched this documentary on meat and was disturbed.... and if I lose some weight in the interim I wouldn’t be upset.  I had already been thinking about doing this but I also ran across a video by one of my fave YOUTUBERS, MsVaughnTV (check her out HERE), and this motivated me more.

I thought that sharing my journey with you will help me stay on track…hence the discipline.  I hope to continue this for the rest of my life but my short term goal is until the wedding.  I'll be sharing recipes I've recently tried with you from some of my favorite blogs and apps.  I'll also be sharing the ups and the downs (the cravings I have for a nice juicy burger are enormous!). 

I have noticed some changes while on this diet.  My nails are a lot stronger, I have a lot more energy during the day (I am anemic so this may have helped with my iron levels), my tummy has slimmed down and I have lost a little weight.  When I started I was 144lbs and now I am 140lbs.  Cool!

Below is the video that helped inspire me.

Inspiring right!!!

Thanks for reading,

Christa

My Grow Out Challenge

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A "little" back drop...

So remember a few years ago when Kim Coles had most of the African American female population going crazy over her hair grow out challenge?  Well I am there now.  I wasn't there a few years ago because I was already natural.  I am still natural but my hair isn't as healthy as I would like.  

In January, I went into one of my moods where I needed to change something and as in most cases when I get in these moods my hair falls victim.   So, I decided to color my hair.  No not highlights or just a portion...the entire head!  I colored my entire head light brown with blond highlights (of course it was professionally done by my wonderful soon to be mother in-law).  I loved it! And I still love it!  

I went from this

To this

Now I'm one of those people that has jet black hair (I get this from my mother) so getting my hair to lift from black to light brown and blond took a lot of chemicals.  Don't get me wrong, my hair did not fall out or anything its just now in the state of being dry all the time and me having to constantly moisturize and my ends are SPLITNATION.  So on to what I want...

My goal is to get my hair back to the health that I want.  Length is not too much of an issue because the healthier the hair is the more the hair will grow.  I'm really looking to get back to the fullness I once had.  Here are a few picks of my hair in its natural state (with the color).

Pics we've all seen before.  So now that I'm getting married, I think I not only need to get my body into shape I also need to get my hair into shape.  I would love to walk down the aisle with my hair looking like this...

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...and I can I just have to start now.  So on to the challenge!  Done by Kim Coles a few years ago and also with one of my favorite bloggers Curly Nikki, the grow out challenge will help me achieve my healthiest hair possible.  HERE is a link to Curly Nikki's/ Kim Coles grow out challenge.

Guidelines:

• Drink at least 64 oz of water each day (or half your body weight in ounces)
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet
• Take a multi vitamin and other beneficial supplements
• Handle hair gently at all times
• Seal your ends every time you moisturize
• Minimize (direct) heat usage
• Deep treatment at every wash session
• Develop and follow a consistent hair routine, tailored to your specific needs and desired goals
• Have fun and enjoy the journey!

In future posts, I will go more into detail about the vitamins I am taking, my hair routine and my current diet.  To start this challenge, I am currently in the process of doing box braids.  A great way to protect my hair from heat and daily manipulation.  I'll show the finished product later.

Have you done the grow out challenge?  If so, share your results!

Thanks for following,

Christa

Checklist: What's Been Done So Far

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Since Chicago and also while in Chicago, I have been pretty darn busy.  This wedding planning is a job that I'm only getting paid for in love...that's ok I guess. LOL  Anyway, below is a checklist of things that are suppose to get done between now and a year before my wedding.  This is quite useful so by all means use it if you must.  You can also have a checklist generated for you on theknot.com.

1. Get Organized
2. Envision your wedding style and wedding colors
3. Talk budget with your family and find out who's contributing
4. Get ring insurance for your engagement ring
5. Wedding announcements
6. Pick a wedding date
7. Interview wedding coordinators
8. Envision your wedding dress
9. Get in wedding day shape
10. Hire a wedding coordinator
11. Research caterers

I've gotten most of the things on my list done!  As I won't go into detail about all of the items, I will tell you my favorites!

I found and purchased my wedding dress.  A bit bittersweet for me because my grandmother was not there  nor was my best friend  but I did have the right people next to me and I had the most fun I've had in a long time.  Not expecting to buy a dress at all this soon, I did find the perfect dress and even had my picture taken with the designer; a once in a lifetime opportunity.  I purchased my dress in Chicago at Evas Bridals of Oaklawn.

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A large weight off my back has been finding a wedding planner.  I will not name her yet but I believe I have found what is going to save me from pulling my hair out.  With me being in North Carolina and having my wedding in Chicago, my family and I have decided that investing in a wedding planner will be worth it.  I am extremely happy and relieved.  SN- Remember the movie "The Wedding Planner"?

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Although this particular point is not on my list, I am looking forward to premarital counseling.  This will be done at my church in Chicago.  Anyway that I can better myself and my life I am down for.  In this, I know I will learn something new and amazing and something that will make and help my marriage with Jay become stronger than if we go in without counseling.  We have an entire day of counseling in September. SN- Trinity never ceases to amaze me with the knowledge and the power the staff has.  Here is a link giving a definition of premarital counseling.

Plenty of information on my progress but I am no where near done.  Hope you enjoyed!!  Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Christa

Wedding Freebies from The Frugal Girls

One of my favorite blogs has a post on wedding freebies and tips.  In the post, you can find anything from coupons to gift ideas so check it out HERE.  Also check out their website HERE and under my blog list for everyday coupons, tips and ideas for anything.  Bellow is a small preview...

(By The Frugal Girls thefrugalgirls.com)

BIG List of Wedding DIY, Freebies, and Deals!

Planning a wedding?? Or do you know someone who is?  Check out this BIG List of Wedding Freebies, $$-Saving Tips & DIY Ideas…

Beautiful Weddings & Bridal Showers on a Budget:

BIG List of Tips for a Wedding on a Budget

How to Throw a Beautiful Bridal Shower on a Budget

Craft Store Coupons:

• Hobby Lobby Coupons
• Michaels Coupons
• Michaels iPhone or Droid App = more coupons!
• JoAnn Coupons {enter your email address near the bottom of the page}
• JoAnn iPhone or Droid App = more coupons!

Save the Date, Thank You’s, and Labels:

• 100 FREE Save the Date Postcards from Vistaprint {just pay s/h}

• 140 FREE Return Address Labels from Vistaprint {just pay s/h} ~ great for Invitations or Thank You’s

• 100 FREE Thank You Postcards from Vistaprint {just pay s/h} + you’ll save on postage! 

• FREE Return Address Stamp from Vistaprint {just pay s/h}

Head over to the webisite for so much more!

Christa

Wedding Photo Friday: Natural Hairstyles

I'm back!!  I had a wonderful time in Chicago wedding planning.  I'll share some of the details with you next week.  Until then, here are some pics of some wedding hairstyles for my fellow naturalistas!!  Enjoy these gorgeous women!

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I die for each and every one of these styles.  I haven't decided if I'm going to straighten my hair (flat iron) or wear my hair in its natural state.  What do you guys think?  Until next week!

Christa