Re-evaluating Relationships; Changing/Removing Friendships.

Demi Lovato went to Company magazine and spoke about how she only got four texts and a missed call after she left rehab.

I can relate (except for the rehab part...).

I'm not naive. I understand that the friends you have today will probably not be there tomorrow; it's only the very few that last til the very end. Worse still, you also learn to rely less and less on family...

As I have progressed through life, my primary school friends and I aren't so close anymore. Our interaction is reduced to Facebook/Hyves (a Dutch social networking site) or no interaction whatsoever. It's something I don't even feel so bad about. People grow apart due to hitting puberty, meeting new people or because they live on the other side of the North Sea (I went to school in the Netherlands).

Fast forward to secondary school, I made some great friends and remained with a few of them in sixth form. At university, we grew apart; time, distance, meeting new people etc., just changed things. I talk with a few of them on Facebook and we will say hi when we bump into each other but that's about it...

Now I have finished uni, I made some friends, some will remain, others will definitely not.

I suppose people who I became friends with outside of university are the ones I will be keeping in touch with for some time... basically because we weren't pressured to become friends because we were all cooped up in a classroom six hours a day. We are friends by choice and share very similar interests too.

When my brother died I had a wake-up call. You know how they say that during your most difficult times you know who's for real and who isn't? That's exactly what I experienced.

At the time of his death it really bothered me that some people didn't call or even thought of sending me a message... a simple message. An overwhelming amount of people did call me, send me messages online or via text, telling me they're there for me and sending their condolences. Some friends even spend entire days with me and came over to visit and help out. Another amazing friend came from London and baked cupcakes for me and my family. I will never forget that.

I have confronted those who never called or showed up (except those who had a really valid reason for not visiting), only to be showered with a myriad of excuses. From then on I decided to just brush it off and re-examine my relationship with them... I ended up placing them in my 'low priority' list and reduce my conversations with them to small talk.

Let tragedies be a lesson that sometimes it is best not to expect even the simplest of things from people... also, do not overlook the ones who have consistently been there for you... and finally, do not depend on others too much, don't be afraid to ever depend on yourself.

In Review: ISIS Mag Issue 2

Review time! Haven't blogged for time because of life! However, I'm returning today... and what better way to get back into it all than reviewing the second issue of ISIS Magazine? 

The deets on the left and the acknowledgements on the right, can you spot my name?

Editors, contributors and contents. 

Layout is just perfect, the text is a good size and the colours are not overdone. References to pages in the editor letter.

Information on hair types.

The hair cycle.

Great information on the hair cycle; a vital process in hair shedding and growth that is also most often misunderstood.

Love for locs.

Ladies with locs are also getting some love from ISIS!

The right page shows different types of locs and a loc alternative (my most favourite protective style ever; yarn braids). The side box also explains the different loc styles... I really want to get locs someday!

I particularly loved this image.

Love your fellow natural sistas (and non-natural sistas too)!

Show support, show love... don't hide anything you know about your hair journey that may be beneficial to the next person. Share.

Specialist advice from Mahisha Dellinger

How do you stop frizz? The next page offers fast and easy techniques to fight the dreaded frizz... the technique also uses common household items such as apple cider vinegar and honey. 

This page spoke volumes.

A progression in age is no reason to let yourself go! Eat well, drink well, exercise well... look well! 

How to make your own dry skin face mask.

There's a really good interview with celebrity makeup artist Juliet Osodi. She offered tips on cleansing, exfoliating and hydrating. Whilst many of the products she recommended would burn a hole in my wallet, she did give some great tips which you can utilise in accordance to your budget and lifestyle.

An exposé: all about rapeseed oil.

I personally loved this exposé. We're led to believe that any oil besides mineral oil is good for us... but that is wrong, wrong, wrong! Rapeseed oil is one of the oils which is not good for us, as it ''contains a high proportion of erucic and ecosenoic acid which is not essential for human growth''. Read labels and do your research! 

All about the children.

Loved this section; great use of colours that seem to complement one another... also great tips for caring for children. There is also a focus on food and a list of ingredients (which are most commonly found in children's favourite snacks) which are bad for the little ones.

A personal favourite tip I found is healthier alternatives to our traditional fluoride-filled toothpastes.

We love our men. 

Inside the mind of a man.

Incredibly honest thoughts on women and exercise and women's figures.

I couldn't focus on the words when reading the men's section...

Interviews with George The Poet and Ryan Calais Cameron. Mr Cameron is an actor having starred in a number of programs. George is... well... a poet, and a really good one at that! 

This section highlights talents and also offers tips for you to make your money go further.

There is a great article in this section entitled 'The Psychology of Shopping'. I found this very, very useful because I struggle to manage my money pretty well. 

Interview with stylist Nedjetti.

Nedjetti has worked with Mos Def and Spike Lee. The interview section also offers some great high quality images of some of the models she's done certain hair styles on.

African Pulse

There's a feature on African Pulse. African Pulse sells African inspired clothing and accessories.

Neb Heru with his new app.

Neb Heru provides crystal-filled pyramids which ''harnesses and creates a healthy ambience for all homes''. 

How to stay in touch with ISIS. 

How did these ladies go natural?

Stories that many of us can relate to. I like this section of the magazine because it isn't about highlighting particular bloggers and their journeys, but it's about regular individuals (if that makes sense?).

'Your Love Is As Natural As My Hair'.

This was such an 'awww' moment for me. Curliegyl is seriously lucky to have a man who is so involved with her natural hair and her natural hair journey. I personally loved this story as it offers encouragement and lets us all know that there are many men out there who love natural hair!

Want to subscribe?

Life Lessons. 

Life Lessons with Esther Austin: Practice self-love. I think this was a very sweet and positive way to end Issue 2... I know it personally helped me as I was going through a few things at the time of reading the magazine.

Final Thoughts

Not all pages were included in this review (you really have to buy the magazine and check it out for yourself!).

Issue 2 really builds on Issue 1. It was well put together and provided a lot of good, useful and diverse content. My favourite section was the children's section! The individual articles such as the éxpose and Nathaniel Nwosu's piece on berries (not pictured) were a really good read as well. Overall, I have enjoyed Issue 2 because the magazine's ethos is in tune with mine.