MAASAI BLANKET OVER DENIM ON DENIM
Vipi Vipi beautiful people.
Getting back to regular posting as promised.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my condolences to the families and friends of everyone who lost a special someone on the Ethiopian Airlines flight that crashed this past Sunday. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
Over the past year, I know of friends and loved one who have lost someone that they truly love. For me, it’s a constant reminder to embrace each day, be present, and pour my love to my dear people for tomorrow is never promised.
For today’s denim on denim look, I went with the maasai blanket and red boots as the accessories and accent color. Blue and red compliment each other beautifully and they also happen to be my two favorite colors.
I did another maasai blanket look here
The blankets are perfect as a winter scarf as they keep you warm and have a very chic vibe to it.
MAASAI BLANKET: MAASAI MARKET
JEANS: EXPRESS
BOOTS: BERSHKA
DENIM SHIRT: ZARA
EARINGS: HM
HAT & BACKPACK: ZARA
SUNNIES: RAY BANS
SIX YEAR ANNEVARSARY
This week, the blog turned 6. My goodness! Six!! If someone would have told me back then when I had just published that first post in 2012 I would be here jotting this piece, I would not have believed them.
Truth be told, I almost… almost forgot about my annevarsary. I feel like so much has happened this year that kinda shifted how I looked at things. The main one being the loss of my brother Kim.
I am still grieving. Losing my brother so suddenly, so soon, made me want to curl up in a ball and shut out the world. I don’t think there is a day that goes by without thinking about him. Shutting out the world made me sink deeper into other things. Escapism.
I think I have reread all the books on my Kindle. Books have always been my go to or gym.
Talking about gym, man - I neglected those gym dates as if they were a visit to the colonoscopist. My body felt it too. The endorphins I was used to getting post workout, the burst of new ideas all dimmed.
There is a month I did not log in on this space. This space that has been such a sanctuary, a gallery of inspiration, and a log book of words that resonated with you.
It’s after I had gotten back to Mexico at the end of August after a much needed time off, that I knew I had to pick up where I had left off.
I had pending posts, shoot ideas that I had jotted months ago that never came to fruition, the online shop, more creative channels to share these stories and low-key my psyche got affected. I had trampled my creative self and it was starting to take a toll on me. My face was breaking out. I had strated eating like crap which made me feel like crap!
I knew I had to jump right in and get things straightened out. When I do creative work. I thrive. I don’t care what it is. It could be painting, writing, cooking, sewing - it’s like meditation.
So last month I got back to regular gym dates and it felt amazing! My body had missed those grueling sessions. Sometime last week during a cardio session, I found myself crying, the tear ducts must have exploded or something. It was like going through a cleanse.
Gosh, this has been one heavy post. I should be celebrating and talking about - fun stuff but this is where I come to lay it down. The last couple of posts felt bla! I felt bla writing them.
No one teaches us how to grieve. Yes, there books about it, and counselors but the whole experience is singular. The grief path is mine to walk alone. No one can understand it. No one can walk it with you.
Time, your told, is your friend.
What you are not told is the many times memories will surface and catch you unawares.
Or the time that you will see someone resembling your brother across the street that made your heart almost skip a beat.
Or the time you want to make a phone call because something amazing happened but there is no one on the other side of the phone.
Or the time a joke you laughed about makes an appearance, and you start laughing and crying at the same time and people around you wonder if you are ok.
Or the time you are deleting your old voicemails and you come across one that remind you of his voice then you wonder what made you so busy -you missed that call.
Or old text messages.
Or that every time you log in on Netflix, you will see his profile, and he won’t text you on a random day to remind him the password.
And since Kim took some my pictures in the early years of this blog, I do remember the times he would drive me to a location I had spotted. He was more hype than me! Man, he treated them like a shoot on a major magazine. Couldn’t wait for the day!
The things that seemed so banal, I would do anything to go through them one more time.
We do not understand how little time we have until life reminds us how fleeting our mortality is.
Oh, I will do it tomorrow. What if tomorrow never comes?
When I started this blog I had reservations. I doubted myself but I got it started anyway.
There have been many lessons, growth, and amazing opportunities - and it will only get better!
Go head and do what you would like to do.
Most of the times, we are worried about what people will say or do.
They don’t matter. Folks will have opinions about everything and anything. Do you!
I shared six things I have learnt over the years on my Instagram and I figured I might as well share them here.
1.Have fun - a must! I will stop blogging the day it stops being enjoyable.
2. Share what you love...tell stories. There is someone out there who will be encouraged or inspired by your stories. Go tell them.
3. Be humble and stay curious.
4. You are not competing with anyone but yourself. This one is major! Esp in the age of social media where you may feel your value is akin to the number of followers you may have amassed. The 300 followers do not make my content any less to anyone with 300K. Keep working on you and your craft. Growth is slow and gradual but consistency is everything. Darling, you are competing with yourself. Stay on course. Everyone is on their own lane.
5.Ask questions. The only way you will learn. Ask, Ask, Ask!
6. Stay true to self. I can’t emphasize how important this is. There is only one you. No one else has your ideas other than you. Make them happen. Don’t follow what everyone is doing. Everyone is never right. Remember that quote on being an original and not a copy?
I hadn’t intended to go all in on the motions but here we are. A couple of weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a friend of mine and we were talking about loss and grieving and he asked me if I thought I was depressed. Perhaps.
I know I was going through some stages of it. Denial, anger, bargaining, annnddd depression is somewhere right there. I don’t think I want to sit still and figure this out by myself but I will keep you updated. I think it is important as a community to be able to talk about issues that we go through in life. I know for sure I am not alone.
On a POSITIVE note. I started a new job 2 months ago and it’s been a dream come true - at times have to pinch myself. I am currently working at CHANEL. I can’t say how excited I am about this journey!! Been a fan of mademoiselle Coco Chanel since time in memorial. In the early days of the blog, Coco Chanel’s quote was up there with the Anneconventional banner. See how the universe works? :)
Lastly, even though I know I am still going through the motions. The getting back up had to happen because the only way I can honor my biggest cheerleader and hypeman Kimnation is by doing what I always do best. Create. I know he is up there scream YEAHHHH!!!! Roshienation!!
Happy SIX and too many more!
As always, many thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you!
ATLANTA
Hello beautiful people!!
We are halfway through the month! And three months until the year is over. Unbelievable!
I was talking to my mum this afternoon and it hit me it had been six months since I saw her beautiful face. Mama I miss you so much!!
Right around Labor day, my friends and I meet up in Atlanta. A reunion of some sorts. I laughed, cried, reconnected with old friends, laughed some more, danced to my heart's content. It was a much needed break from the always vibrant New york energy.
Then when I got back to New York, I found myself overtaken by life in the corporate world and other behind the scenes details. The relaxed haze of my weekend getaway quickly wanned and I was back on the grind. To put it simply, I was overwhelmed. I have a few projects launching simultaneously next month.
It will be Anneconventiona’s 5 YEAR Anneversary. Woahhh woahhh!!
I feel giddy just saying that. You guys have been with me for 5 YEARS. FIVE!!! Ughhhhhh ….
I am about to quip my gratitude speech as if holding an oscar but I will hold it until October and give you a little tit bit of what’s to come
SHOP.ANNECONVENTIONAL
Yes!!!!! A duka, shop in all sense of the word. I have been sketching since I was twelve. Leaning strongly towards watercolor and I figured it was about time I put this items up. Share them with you. So when I am not busy running up and down, I am cooped up in my lil room painting to my heart's content. I have been listening to a lot of Leon Bridges and Kwame Nkrumah. The sound of their soulful voices that have me all emotional. Pouring my heart in my work. River- by Leon Bridges is so powerful!!
I really can’t wait to share with you what’s in store in the store. I am actually thinking of doing a little give away to you my dear readers. I am still thinking of how to bring that together. Stay tuned.
HEALTHY STORIES
Recipes. Yay! I talk about wellness a lot, it’s about time I accompany them with the food I eat. I curate my recipes from other bloggers and recipe books that I have amassed on my frequent Barnes and Nobles excursions. The home science classes I took in my high school years will come in handy. I am really drawn to beautiful food layouts leaning toward the minimal and since I will be putting my camera skills to work, it will be fascinating to see the end product. Who’s ready to dig in?
AND FINALLLY
A PODCAST
UGGGHHHH!! JUST SAYING THIS GETS ME ALL EXCITEDDD!!
I thought of starting a youtube. Actually that was the initial idea. Vlog every moment and show you a little bit of what happens in my world and behind the scenes but I tend to soak up in moment and forget the filming part. Plus the thought of filming and editing on top of everything else that seems to be going on would result to my neglecting other creative areas of my life. So a podcast it is. It will be on itunes so keep your eyes peeled.
I enjoy talking to people and discovering how they got to where they are. I live for such organic moments and it just seemed fitting to bring those conversations to life. I have reached out to of my soon to be guests and they are all stoked which gets me all thrilled!!
Ok calm down Roshie.
That’s about it in a nutshell! Phew, that is a mouthful but it explains my absence the last couple of weeks. I hate deadlines but I set them up to be accountable. My mother mentioned from our conversation earlier that she hasn't gotten a notification of a new post. I had that awkward well ummmm, I know mum moment. I have a lot going on. My mother is always on the go so I had to quip I am my mother’s daughter.
So here is a new post. Rocked this gorgeous gem at the PXP Festival in Atlanta. It was so great to meet old friends, dance, meet some that I had only interacted with through Social media. If you follow me on SNAPCHAT you might have seen it all when I actually remembered to take those videos,
Thank you as always for stopping by. I have to get back to painting. I am jotting this at a starbucks around the corner from my place. I enjoy the change of scenery but the watercolors are screaming my name. I better answer the call. The duka needs items to stock up.
Yours trully,
R.
