Go where you are CELEBRATED
Happy Tuesday everyone, Many of you know I celebrated my birthday last week with a trip to beautiful Cartagena, Columbia. I’d been wanting to go there for years, but really didn’t know what to expect. I can honestly say, Cartagena really surprised me. If I had to sum up my entire experience into one phrase, it would be “Go where you are celebrated”. All women are embraced there, but I feel like women of color are truly celebrated in Cartagena. There are African influences everywhere! In particular, billboards, breathtaking murals and beautiful pictures of women of color all around. This is often taken for granted, but as a woman of color my trip to Cartagena was the first time I ever felt really embraced in a country. Not only were women of color posted everywhere, people were extremely friendly, nice and helpful towards me. Again, something I haven’t always experienced in other countries. By the way, since there were so many beautiful murals, I’ll be posting another blog post of the murals, and the Walled City. Once of the major reasons why I’ve had this colorful, vibrant, and happy city on my bucket list for so long is because of the Afro-Columbian community that I wanted to learn more about, as well as where the african influences originated from. I can be bit of a history fanatic at times, and as I’ve grown older my desire to learn more about it has grown exponentially. On my second day in Colombia, I took a tour to San Basilio de Palenque, which is an african village almost an hour outside of...
Luxury shopping at affordable prices
Happy Friday everyone, Who else besides me loves to find high end quality items at affordable prices? As a Fashion Stylist and Blogger I get asked all the time where I shop, and it’s no secret that it’s everywhere! Today I’m sharing one of my absolute favorite places to shop in North Carolina, where I constantly find luxury items for amazingly great prices. Have you heard of National Pawn? If not you’re in for a treat! I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a mini shopping spree at their Fleetwood Drive store in Raleigh, North Carolina earlier this week. This location is one of sixteen stores in the state, and is one of their larger stores in the Triangle. As usual I browsed around for a short time, but it didn’t take long to spot several items I wanted to purchase. One of the things I love about shopping at National Pawn is they literally have everything! You never know what you’re going to find. They specialize in luxury brands, and in that regard are much more like a high end consignment shop rather than a pawn shop. From designer jewelry, designer handbags, electronics, to home items, they are absolutely your one stop shop for high quality items. The best part about it is they have layaway, which makes purchasing big ticket items a breeze. Secondly, the staff is always so nice and helpful. They don’t hover over you while shopping and genuinely want to make sure you’re happy with your purchases. Naomi assisted me with the purchase of my David Yurman silver bracelet, which was the perfect...
The First Annual Ultimate Fashionista Tea
Hello Lovelies, FAMILY IS EVERYTHING! Last month my family established a new tradition that I’m simply over the moon about. I hosted The First Annual Ultimate Fashionista Tea for all the ladies in my family. We are small and like many other families, over the years we have loss what I call our anchors. These anchors were the ladies and gentlemen who always kept our family together from as long as I can remember. This has concerned me deeply and I have been wanting to do something special for quite some time. I prayed about it and God placed it on my heart to host this tea party to bring our family closer, fellowship, as well as honor our elder ladies which include my dear mama, her two sisters, and a cousin. All I can say is God showed up, showed out! Everyone was mesmerized by two special and talented sister friends who blessed us with their gifts from God. Minister Edith Berry of Prolific Epic Partners based in Raleigh, NC performed a beautiful mime, and Sister Jacqueline Price Williams based in Chesapeake, VA performed beautiful praise dances. Both ladies were a blessing, and their anointed performances left a permanent mark of peace, love and serenity in our hearts. Overall, the day was a huge success and blessing to everyone! Words can’t express how honored I was to be in the presence of such royal and stylish ladies who I’m blessed to be able to call my family. I thank each and everyone who attended, performed, and assisted in any way. Most of all I thank God for using...
America The Beautiful
For the past several years I’ve struggled with becoming less patriotic than ever before. As a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve who served for 8 years, I didn’t hesitate to join the military and put my life on the line for this country. The senseless lack of regard for black lives over the years, had me struggling with whether I would still show my support for a country with so many injustices, but the reason why I do is simple. It’s like when you and your siblings have a disagreement with each other, and don’t see eye to eye. As long as the fight stays among yourselves all its fine, but the moment an outsider tries to come for one of your siblings, all hell breaks loose. I feel this is similar to what’s going on in this country. We are having a disagreement right now, but if anyone tries to come for us, we would unite. It shouldn’t and hopefully won’t ever have to come to that for us to unite. My prayer is for this country to get back to trying to be the melting pot it once strived for when I was a little girl. No country is perfect, and there are injustices everywhere in the world. In this country, there’s definitely a lot wrong, but this is also a country that elected the first black president proving that the potential for greatness for every member of this society still exists. Has the justice system let us down? Absolutely! But the bottom line is so many have sacrificed so much to ensure our freedom. On...
Celebrating friendship at the sweetest Galentine’s Party
Last week I celebrated friendship at the sweetest Galentine’s Party at Babylon Restaurant. The event was spearheaded by blogger babes Angela Keeley-White of Head to Toe Chic and Meghan Grant of I’m Fixin To Blog, who did an amazing job putting everything together. They definitely know how to throw a great party! In attendance from left to right was Courtney Marshall of Courtney Fashionista, Tiffany and Lindsey of Baubles and Backdrops, Angela Keeley-White of Head to Toe Chic, Meghan Grant of I’m Fixin To Blog, me, Stephanie Emory of A Style Of Her Own, Carlone Barbee of The Barbee Housewife, and Molly Stillman of Still Being Molly. It was my first time at Babylon Restaurant, which is located in beautiful downtown Raleigh, NC, and the atmosphere was absolutely breathtaking! Upon arrival I was taken back by the interior design which is overall romantic, and couldn’t take my eyes off of the hand-painted ceiling and ornate tiles. As you can see, the space was beautifully decorated with gorgeous floral arrangements, bubbly drinks, and the cutest cookies from Bailey Lane Bakery. These cookies just melted in my mouth, and I couldn’t resist going back for a second one. Babylon really rolled out the red carpet for us in terms of service, and I really enjoyed the flavorful menu from Morocco. All in all this holiday was a beautiful celebration of lady friends. Each of these ladies inspire me, and I’m so blessed to know them! Photography by: GloryRoze Photography What I Am Wearing: //Fur Collar Coat // Vintage //Floral Mock Turtleneck // Sweet Pea by Stacy Frati (old) //Lace Midi...About Me
I remember at a very young age being mesmerized in my mother’s closet, and trying on her clothes which quickly became a hobby. As I grew older I not only enjoyed enhancing my look, but that of others, so the natural fit was to become a Fashion Stylist.
Recent Comments