Product Review: Nightmares on my street! Dr. Bach's Rescue Sleep

Insomnia has taken over my nightlife for the last four to five weeks. At first I thought it was just minor but it has turned into a chronic condition. I wanted to try a natural remedy and recently was put onto Dr. Back's flower remedies by a flight attendant that noticed my stress level during a turbulent flight back from St. Croix. After trying Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy, I noticed it did in fact reduce my anxiety and stress to a noticeable difference.

Enter Dr. Bach's Rescue Sleep. It's a combination of five of the original flower essences and is meant to switch off the mind from unwanted, repetitive thoughts. Many of which keep me up at night. It's supposed to provide a natural night's sleep.

Here are the ingredient's: 

White Chestnut: To help ease restless mind.
Star of Bethlehem: For trauma and shock.
Clematis: For the tendency to "pass out", and unconsciousness, being ‘far away’ and not present mentally.
Cherry Plum: Fear of mind giving way, verge of breakdown, anger.
Impatiens: For irritability, tension and fidgety.
Rock Rose: For frozen terror and panic.

I don't know WHICH ingredient is the culprit but I never have nightmares! The two nights that I used the spray I had terrors over and over again. And I remembered them all. I definitely cannot take anything that's going to cause my blood pressure to go up to extreme levels while I'm sleeping.

I also experienced heart palpitations immediately after spraying my tongue. Did it help me sleep? No. Once I fell asleep (hours after I used the spray) I woke up every two hours or so from the nightmares, would fall back to sleep and wake up in another two hours or so from a different nightmare. In the morning, I felt very groggy and tired.

Rescue Sleep may work for others but it definitely doesn't work for me. I should return it to the Vitamin Shoppe for a refund.

I have to find a solution for my insomnia. Even sex doesn't help! I end up with more energy than before I started. Sigh…

I would try one of the prescriptions for insomnia, but with side affects such as suicidal thoughts and depression, I'd rather stay awake!

Getting fit! How do you deal w/ the pain?

I'm more serious now than ever about getting in shape. I've got my mind right, am committed to 3x a week with my trainer and am focused on eating right, maintaining, and getting my lean self back again. But, it's a painful process! I'm so sore. That's an understatement. I'm trying to find techniques to ease the pain, but so far, I'm enduring it all!

What are your tips for decreasing the burn, tingle, and fire that comes after a hard workout? I've been focused on stretching and soaking in epsom salt but I need a little more help...books spa appointment!

What helps you?

Smooches,
Naija

Happy New Year

Cyber friends I hope you are alive and well. This year is going to be great. I'm claiming it! And even though it's been off to a tumultuous start for many around me, I'm claiming victory and I hope you are too. I don't have any resolutions. I'm just continuing to power forward with some of my long-term goals. The first being getting this PhD. It's now or never. My other goals include growing my business and living a healthier lifestyle. That's enough to keep me busy for this year and the next.

As far as writing, I haven't been doing much lately. Just been busy with life BUT rest assured that by this spring, you'll have another entertaining read from yours truly. To keep yourself intrigued, follow the short stories I've been sharing on this blog.

Last but not least, many of you know last year I decided to go natural and stop relaxing my hair. It's been so fun let me tell you! I never thought I'd wear my hair in it's natural state since I was a child. But, over a year later, I'm still natural and loving it. Amazing all the different things my hair will do with a little trickery!

I'll be back soon. Lots to discuss and chat about. In the meanwhile, what's on your mind?

Smooches,
Naija

Mountaintop portrays Dr. King as an adulterous, fearful, smoking, and cussing preacher man...amongst other things.

The two-character play staring Samuel Jackson and Angela Bassett left me with mixed feelings as I walked out onto 45th and Broadway searching for something to fill the void the play left behind. I’ll admit, the play had a semi-powerful ending and message but the fabric of the play was crass, lighthearted, and often times comical. The kind of comedy you’d find on TBS. The complexities that exist now and then were downplayed and the performance and implications were a bit much at times.

I couldn’t help but think of Forrest Gump as I listened to Samuel Jackson’s impersonation of Dr. King’s accent. 90 minutes of that got old quick. But, there’s something about watching the likes of Samuel Jackson and Angela Bassett, two super stars in their own right perform on Broadway that will captivate you nonetheless. Even when Angela’s character Camae (a maid with a twist) over performs and exaggerates every line, emotion, and gesture, something makes you hold on to see just where this play is going. And, where is it going? To the Mountaintop of course. The set takes place in a decrepit motel room the night before Dr. King’s assassination in the midst of a thunderstorm. We quickly learn the vulnerabilities and fear that Dr. King holds.

There are times when I felt like I was watching Sy-Fy during the play. I mean, certain scenes really put you in what looks and feels like Bewitched or The Twilight Zone. It’s definitely some Sy-Fy type of zone. At that point, it’s hard to believe anything that comes next of Angela’s character Camae.

If you’re a Christian or even a bit religious, you may take offense to the way God is portrayed. The mockery, the devilish angels, and the ability to call and argue with God on Her cell add to the saga that is this play. The depression of the events that unfold leading up to Dr. King’s assassination unveil a sordid tale. Yet, the seriousness of his life, legacy, and racial issues do not come across strongly in this play. They are downplayed in epic proportions.

Don’t get me wrong, Angela Bassett delivers a solid performance, as stretched as it may be! Samuel Jackson is as convincing as he always is.

Is it worth the price of admission? Well, for what we paid, no. However, if you can come across discounted tickets, and would like the opportunity to see Samuel Jackson and Angela Bassett up close and personal, then you may be able to overlook the shallowness.

Between My Thighs & Spanish Flyy now available for instant download via iTunes

Hey young world! Happy to bring my spicy novels to you via iTunes! If you haven't read Spanish Flyy or Between My Thighs now's the time. Download instantly on iTunes, NOOK! or Kindle!

Smooches,
Naija

Now available on NOOK! Spanish Flyy & Between My Thighs by Naija

I'm happy to announce that all of my novels are now available for immediate download on the NOOK!

Get your ebook today of Spanish Flyy and Between My Thighs.

Happy reading and thanks for your support! 

Naija 

Also available on the Kindle and iTunes

Going vegetarian! One month at a time...

This month I'm taking on a new challenge. My goal is to get closer to becoming vegetarian. To clarify, my goal is to become pescetarian since I'm not giving up fish. However, everything else has to go. I also intend to give up dairy. I've given up everything else so cheese is next but one thing at a time! 

Starting tomorrow, everything I eat this month will be made with a vegetarian state of mind. If you have veggie recipes please send them my way as I'll be experimenting in the kitchen. Might even take some video footage to document my experiments. 

While I'm being healthy this month, I'm also only going to consume water. No drinking calories! Wish me luck, this is a lot to conquer but I'm up for the challenge. Wanna join me? 

Please send meal suggestions. 

P.S. No soy or tofu.

Interracial dating, what's stoping you?

When it comes to love, are you willing to step outside of your race and date others?

I came across another article encouraging Black women specifically to consider dating outside their race given the "alarming" increase in single black women and the "shortage" of eligible black men. The fact that these topics are newsworthy and continually getting coverage is comical. Apparently, this is a big deal for some. This week alone I kept hearing folks make comments about interracial dating. I have girlfriends who are disturbed when they see a black man with a white women and vice versa. What is it that fuels this anger?

Are you willing to date outside your race for love? Are you a black woman that refuses to date outside your race? If so, why? Are you already in an interracial relationship? If so, share your story.

Share your thoughts on the blog!