Double Portion Inspiration

  A few weeks ago, I shared my cancer journey. Did you get a chance to read it? If not, here's the  link . As a result of the diagnosis and the surgeries that followed, my body was thrust into menopause . It was a shock to my system. Many women I know are either in this season of life or close to it. I wanted to share some of my challenges to let the guys in our life know what the heck is going on.  Just know, this can be a sweet time in a woman's life or it can literally be hell on earth . (Most likely, it's hell on earth).  For simplicity sake, menopause is the time in a woman's life when there is a decline in reproductive hormones. A woman normally reaches menopause in her 40's and 50's.  Ok guys, here's 5 things to remember: She's probably HOT !  Meaning temperature hot. Personally, the hot flashes are the worst part of menopause. It's not just a typical hot either. It's an internal flame that comes out of nowhere and literally stops my abili...

 Natural Beauty When you find yourself on vacation in the mountains, the majority of your time can be spent outdoors enjoying nature.  Whether it's hiking, swimming, or sight seeing, there's really not a need to get "dolled" up to greet the day.  With some days reaching over 90 degrees, sweat can wash away the best of hairstyles and make up.  So why even brush it on or style your hair? This aspect of vacation was completely out of my comfort zone because I am that woman who loves her MAC makeup and most times when I'm in a pool, try desperately not to get my hair wet because that would automatically mean a visit to my stylist (I try to never wash my own hair). Well, I let it all go for the sake of enjoying my vacation to a degree I had not in the past.  You would probably think I was lying when I honestly tell you that I haven't washed my own hair since 2007. That is when my husband and I decided to get baptized together as part of our 10th annivers...

Laurel Falls in Tennessee For nearly a week we both went without make-up, heels, and flat irons.  We had the time of our lives and we can't wait to share it with you over the next few weeks.  Sometimes we laughed so hard we cried.  In the midst of our fun, we learned some great life lessons. Bumper car fun! You can't afford to miss Monday's post from our series called, Mountain Posts .  Have a great weekend! Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook  or join the conversation on Twitter   @doubleportionin

  Ready to run UNCF 5K    My running series is coming to an end and it's hard to believe that my race is next week!  In the previous post I shared my training schedule.  If you missed it click here .  Last Saturday I ran a 5K to prepare my body for race day.  The weather was beautiful and I successfully ran 3.2 miles in under 35 minutes.  I'm sharing some great tips for maintaining your hair during a training program.  I'm sure there are some that feel this is a vain topic to cover, however, you would be amazed how many women forfeit exercising to protect their hair.     Francoise "Frenchie" Gomes For the past 10+ years, I've trusted my hair to Francoise Gomes**, owner of Frenchie's Hair Design.  She's been in the industry for over 20 years and graciously agreed to provide a few tips on maintaining healthy hair. Since there are many differences with hair type, texture, and length,...