Real #SquadGoals

I’ve never been good at making friends. For one thing I come from a conservative religious background that can sometimes make it hard for people to relate to me very much, bu more importantly I suffer from social anxiety. In my mind I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to be my friend. After all, who would want to be friends with someone who doesn’t go out on Friday nights? Someone who struggles with slang and preferred research in the library over shopping?

Growing up, I  made the effort  to be the friend people would want even though the people I befriended didn’t provide me with the friendships I deserved as most of them would take advantage of my generosity for their personal gain. I had conceded to the idea that I just should take what I was given if I ever wanted to have any friends. Looking back it honestly was a subtle form of self-harm (which is not surprising to me given my deliberate self -injury behavior as a teen) that stopped once I met my best friend Jaden* during freshmen year of high school, who really got me out of my shell by encouraging me to  just be myself to the point that started to open up more.

2013 End it Now March Against Abuse and Domestic Violence with 4RWI

Now as an adult friendships are a bit more complicated with the added responsibilities of family and making a living, yet I have found that these mature relationships, especially with women, are more significant as it isn’t about being a part of an “in-crowd” or anything like that, instead it is about  building life-long relationships with purpose. From gaining real world mentoring from the women of 4 Real Women International, INC (4RWI) while working to empower women both in the US and abroad to meeting and collaborating with influencers that I had long admired from my computer, I pretty much a member of quite a few “squads”.  Granted adulting results in people entering different life stages and/or reaching significant milestones at different times that could lead to envy and/or competition, nevertheless, when you meet the right people that is never an issue.
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Spring Into Summer Refresh

With Spring  finally breaking through what felt like the longest winter ever (not that I am complaining because I actually love the cold),  I have also gone through some changes. For one thing  I finally got my hair cut  after putting it off for a good eight months, even going so far as to get it cut shorter than last year with a brighter shade of red as a highlight accent. As someone who has always had long hair its been quite the adjustment, but I figure its a new year and a new season so I might as well go all in. Warmer temps and new hair got me in a bit of a shopping frenzy, however in an effort to stay on budget, I have made sure that at least some of my new wardrobe additions actually work to refresh some of my favorite pieces that I currently own and challenging myself even more with different kind of looks that I never would have put together before.
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A Day With Mom Featuring ELOQUII

When it comes to celebrating Mother’s Day my family tends to celebrate on Saturday instead so that  we can avoid the Sunday crowds and so that my mother can actually use Mother’s Day as a day for her to relax at home. This year, our celebrations were a bit of a washout given the pouring rain that came from the weekend’s Nor’Easter storm. Anyone else would have wanted to call our plans off but my mother wouldn’t hear of it. As far as she was concerned, it was her day and she had new clothes that had to be shown off. So we got dressed and went ahead with our plans. I promised my mother that I wouldn’t interrupt the festivities with my blogging (her words, not mine) so I didn’t. However I did manage to convince her to do a mini shoot before the Uber came to get us.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. Clothes were gifted for feature, but all opinions are my own.

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Chic Pink, & Black With a Hint of Gold

Spring has finally sprung and that means sun, flowers, pastels, and some light layering, well at least it does for me. This year I didn’t get a chance to have some spring fun with my Easter outfit as I was working on some projects last weekend so I figured I should try to bring it to work instead. I’ll admit that until this point I have only had experience working in places with a rigid traditional work dress code so I feel very fortunate to currently work for a company that is a safe space for trying new styles. Ever since I bought this silky pale pink with black polka-dots blouse when I started college nine years ago it has been my go-to spring  work piece that I would normally pair with a blazer and pencil skirt so I decided to give this traditional work outfit a bit of a casual, cute remix. Continue reading

Confessions of a Recovering Wallflower

Let me take this time to confess something: ever since I was a pre-teen I have suffered with severe social anxiety. I have been known to have a panic attack at just the mere thought of doing any kind of activity in front of a crowd, like public speaking. I have gotten ill. I have even literally run away. I would blush severely and break out into sweat whenever I raised my hand in class or  even when speaking to someone outside of my immediate circle of friends and family.

Growing up I constantly received so many negative comments about my weight, hair and overall appearance that I became more than content at being behind the scenes because that is where  I was told I belonged.  I developed a warped understanding of  beauty and self-worth to the point that I told myself  that only those that were conventionally beautiful were meant to be photographed. I wasn’t, so I didn’t need to be. 20161229_151024-2So how does a person like this become a fashion blogger? With much difficulty and purpose-fueled drive. For example, whenever I go out for blog shoots I am very self aware of what I am doing mostly because half the time there are people around. I get self conscious as to what these passersby may be thinking especially when there have been times that they have stopped to watch. I’ve only managed to follow through because my blog photographers are so enthusiastic about the entire process and my body positive mission that it becomes so easy to forget about the curious looks from those around.

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