HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ushering the year with some major sass!! Love it!! Lights..(Clearly) ..camera... action! I had to throw in a smile because of late I have been on my Victoria Beckham no smile game. So this is my new year's outfit and when I look back at Anneconventional's history, this might be the first New Year's outfit post. Look at that... we have history now. I was bundled up because.. ugghh cold!! Plus I was literally getting a brain freeze anytime I took of the hat! After turning four last October. I figured I wanted to do a few things differently especially when it comes to outfit posts. I love them as much as you do. I have fun putting them together, planning out the shoot location, the photo Sesh is always a blast and I always have a tendency to get carried away. Ask all my photographers. Ha!
I love having fun. Life is short right. So when it came to my posts this year. I figured I do something different. Totally different. I would focus on colors then work from there. At the moment I am currently stuck on pink, baby pink, soft pink, pink pink, bright pink, neon pink Pepto Bismal pink, Calpol pink (hated that medicine when I was kid.. Yuck!) They had a theme song with it that went like "Calpol take it away!" I wanted it FAR AWAY from me alright! 5000Km away!
So back to my major Pink crush, stop by my mood board and see what I am raving about! It's so pretty I can not stop looking at it. It might be because of this dreary winter weather! What are you guys up to? Also, since we have history and all, let me know what you would like to see more off in 2017. Personal stories? The color project? More inspirational tales..
I am all ears.
Jacket: F21
Olive Dress: Necessary Clothing
Scarf: Zara
Shoes: Prabal Gurung for Target
Lippie: Mac Liquid Gloss High Drama
TIS THE SEASON
Helloo my dear reader,
I believe it’s been approximately a month or so since my last outfit post. There is nothings as depressing as having a blog dependent on visuals without a photographer. It can wreck havoc to your platform, creative process and have you wanting to throw a fit like a five year old. A good photographer will challenge you, make you see things in a different perspective, appreciate light and shade in a whole new different way and even inspire you. A relationship of some sort eventually blossoms, and it can be the most amazing collaboration ever. Hence why I was away for a month. I needed visuals as badly as dry season needs rainfall.
Gianna, the lovely lady who has been taking my pictures this past several months, who pushed me into a new direction for which I am forever grateful, will no longer be taking my pictures. We bid each other adieu last month. Gianna is currently doing her Masters in Psychology at NYU this means she is extremely busy with school and life so we parted but still remain good friends.
In comes in Arthur, who I believe the universe just brought us together. I was going crazy looking for my visuals person, at the point of pulling out my scalps since my hair was out of the question. A mutual friend recommended Arthur to me and ta daahhh!! Here we are!! Ofcourse I am excited. Dry season is out the door, rain is falling down, crops about to start germinating. I had a few ideas lined up for the blog which will be taking place so without taking the cat out of the bag, let me say that I'm really looking forward to us working together. So stay tuned. I bet you can see me doing my Birdman hand rub.
First of all happy holidays! Where are my manners. I hope this festive season is treating you and yours well. While tis the season, I had an epiphany amidst my wondering where I would get my visuals person and trying to solve other issues like world peace. Lately, whenever I have a lot on my mind, I've been doing a lot of cleaning up. For some weird reason, it makes me feel lighter. It's as if the discarding and cleaning is helping me declutter what’s in my head.
One of the things I discovered was that I had too many clothes. Clothes that I really did not need, or had not worn in eons. I wondered what that said about me. Then I happened to watch a documentary on Netflix on the factories that produce our clothes, the death tolls, the structures the garment worker work in, their treatment. It was heart wrenching. This being the festive season, a lot of damage will be done in shopping stores. We will buy stuff and clothes made by workers who live on less than $2 a day. More stuff that we don't require to fulfill a need that will dissipate faster than fog in the morning. That documentary made me become a more conscious consumer despite the numerous commercials, sales and ads that come my way.
This brings me to today’s outfit. Christmas parties are the norm around this time. In the past, whenever I got invited to an event, the first thought that crossed my mind was, I need to go shopping! Sad but true. I told myself that I wouldn't be buying anything new to attend a Christmas event. Well, apart from shoes, I mean it’s shoes! I would wear something red. Apart from it being festive it's also my favorite my color. Then I would figure out the layers since this winter chill ain't a joke. The interesting part is this whole outfit at one point or another has made an appearance on the blog worn as individual pieces on other posts. I picked out the dress which is a design of mine circa two years ago. The suede blazer, oh what memories it brings! I wore it on my first ever post four years ago here on Anneconventional!
Woah!! That my friends, is the beauty of buying quality pieces that will make it through a couple of washes. I have linked all these pieces from previous posts taking you down memory lane. I'm still amazed that these pieces have lasted me this long. After drooling over the blue sexy shoes from Zara, I finally got them. They give me a Carrie, Sex and the City vibe. The retro hat was gifted to me by a dear friend.
Blazer: Brings so much memories and this one too.
Summer Dress: Wore it here in the summer two years ago
Sparkly sweater: From last Christmas
Clutch: Here, here , the wedding!! and here
I hope this post will inspire you to look into your closet and recreate a look with pieces you already have. Get creative, have fun and the best part is, you get to use your hard earned money for something you really need.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
FOOTBALL & THE BANANA THAT WAS NEVER THERE
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!
This is the time families come together filled with gratitude ready to enjoy some good thanksgiving meal. To be precise, I mean Greens, beans tomatoes, potatoes, lamb, yams....you nameeeee it!!
Also, football is a big part of our thanksgiving. We get to enjoy an amazing meal with our loved ones but what does that have to to with bananas? well grab a cuppa......
It’s the play off season and I am sitting at the bar. Eyes focused on the Tv screen right across from me. The drink in front of me is sweating profusely partly because I have ignored it for a few minutes and also because of the copious amounts of ice cubes the bartender put in it. The napkin that is meant to absorb all this moisture on is wet, if I pull the napkin, I am certain it will fall apart. The guy sitting next to me has his hands under his chin, eyes focused on the screen. My friend on the right side is holding a corona suspended in mid-air. We are all watching a football game. It’s 3rd and goal with the clock running. No time out for either team. It’s do or die. You can hear a pin drop in this bar heck you can even hear hearts pumping blood. Even the bartender rocking his Jersey is staring up at the screen. He will not be taking orders at this time. We are all holding our breaths because the team we are all supporting is down by three points. If they score, they win and who does not like winning. This is a real life mannequin challenge.
The snap is made, the quarter back fakes a handoff then takes a few steps back looking for his tight end or wide receiver, he throws the ball, its up in the air. The ball seems to be up in the air forever, then players from both the opposition and offense jump higher than the maasai. The ball is caught. TOUCHDOWNNNNNNNNNN!!
The bar erupts in hoots, yells and shouts. High fives float in the air. Drinks are tilted, bottles find their way to the mouths. All rounds smiles and the conversation resumes. The game is over. My team won!! Ahhh, I contemplate on this as I sip on my drink. The roar of the crowd, the spirit of the game is better than any drug but it was never like this.
When I first came to the States, I settled in Oklahoma which is well known for its college football. Oklahoma does not have an NFL team but college ball is life. The rivalry between the two state colleges is beyond this world. I never got it. I never used to care. I was less concerned. What was this whole fuss about? It’s just some men, well good looking men, in tights running after a ball that looks like an egg. I frowned upon this egg and all the fuss it wrought. The worst part is when I was watching a game with other people. There I was staring at the screen feeling like a fool because I did not get it. Have you ever watched a football game with someone who does not know a lick about football? The questions! Sigh… To seem slightly interested in what everyone was staring at , I had my own set of questions. Annoying but hey, at least I kinda sorta want to know.
What’s pass interference? How do you interfere with something that’s passing? Haven’t you heard of where there is a will there’s a way?
What’s a face mask? Is it like a clay mask or a cucumber one? Can you get that mask at Sephora or is it an NFL special brand?
Why are the refs lifting both hands. Are they surrendering? Perhaps they are tired, may be they have given up on life?
I would to because wait for it… why is it call a football and they are running around with the ball? By now everyone is well in within their drink and game that my questions, fall and bounce on deaf ears. I am non existent. The only thing that matters is whether OU will beat OSU. Will Sam Bradford do the damn thing! Sigh
Then something happened that changed the way I viewed the game.
Six years ago, we were at my brother’s house watching a game between the Colts and the Patriots. Fifteen people and my nonchalant self were in the room staring at the TV Screen. A Brady Manning showdown is always the game to watch. The two quarterbacks are legends in this sport. The Colts were losing but since Manning had that magic touch, they made a drive that resulted to a touchdown, then when the Patriots went back in, the ball was intercepted, Manning was back again. That turnover resulted into another touchdown. Boy!! Wasn't everyone excited!! High fives were going all around, hoots and cheers. You could hear "Get to know Manning chants" then it all quieted down. Eyes back to the TV, the game was back on and now the fact that the Colts had made a comeback, everyone's mood was jubilant. Then I saw something at the corner of my eye. It couldn't be, I thought. Then I looked around and everyone in the room seem not to have seen it.
"Guys, guyss.... have you seen that?" my arm pointing at the television screen.
At this point every one was looking at me wondering why I was so concerned.
"Someone threw a banana on the field!!!" I exclaimed
Everyone was looking at me as if I had sprouted horns. I looked towards my brother but he was looking at me with eyes wide like that startled emoji, then he slightly shifted on his seat positioning himself better.
"What?"
That came from my sister Flo, whose eyebrows seem to have risen up a notch.
I looked around and I noticed a few people slightly averting their gazes from me. Their mouth twisted in mirth. I repeated what I had seen. I even asked my brother to rewind so EVERYONE could see the BANANA that had been thrown on the field by some moron.
My brother, willingly obliged as he chewed his inner cheek trying so hard not to laugh.
Then everyone was looking at me when I stood up to point it out to them as if a meteorologist showing the wind direction and such.
"There! Thereee!! Did you see it!!?"
The whole room exploded into laughter. Guys were clutching their stomachs howling and wiping tears of their eyes.
"Roshie, that is not a banana! There was a FLAG on the play!!" Flo explained.
"All this time we have been watching football you never knew that?"
The guffawing and cackling that went on in that room would have made you think Chris Rock was giving a stand up. The thick fog of embarrassment cloaked itself on me leaving me mortified and praying to the good Lord that the floor would open up and swallow me whole.
I do not think I will ever live down that banana moment.
Soon after, I became very interested with everything football because I swore to myself that I would never embarrass myself like that ever again.
All because of a damn banana!
Nowadays, I truly enjoy the camaraderie that comes with the sport. There is nothing I enjoy as watching a game fully understanding the on goings. It's so much fun!! I remember last year when the season started, I took myself to the bar. All SOLO to watch a Giants game. (I am a huge GIANTS fan by the way) They lost the game but I gained friends. I remember walking back home that night smiling, thinking how far I came from that epic banana moment.
-------
If you follow me on snap chat I am pretty sure you are familiar with this hoodie and cap look. It's so comfy plus it keeps my baldie and ears covered now that the temperatures are dipping. The blue skirt I am wearing was an after thought after I finished making it. Normally, hoodie and cap goes with my jeans or sometimes sweats when I am dashing off to the grocery store for some almond milk. I kinda like how the look came together.
Jacket - HM
Ny Giants Hoodie: Gifted
Skirt: ROSHIE ANNE
Ankle boots: F21
DENIM SHIRT DRESS
Happy Friyay!!
This particular headwrap style has always been my favorite. It used to be my go to style during bad hair days, then for that bohemian look with large earrings circa early 2000s. Super easy, so here is how you do it. You basically place the fabric on your head, then coil the extra fabric in a bun.
Since the weather has been teasing us with warm temperatures, I took full advantage of it and rocked a denim shirt that has been lying idle in my closet. It looks like one of those Whoopie Goldberg shirts she wears on THE VIEW when the unbuttoned. I just gave it a different spin rocking it by itself no pants, not tights. Plus I buttoned it all the way -up like a pastor. I was a little bit apprehensive at first because of it's mumu like appearance buuuttttt there is a first time for everything.
Oh! and my go to Mary Janes make another appearance.
Have a great weekend!
Shirt Dress: Zara
Head Wrap: Zara
Shoes: ASOS