SUMMER 17
Happy Summer 17 beautiful people!
There is something about a new season. Especially the long awaited summer months. The birds chirp louder, folks walk with heads up high. Rooftops become crowded. Drinks flowing everywhere. Clothes become lighter, shorter, colorful. We meet new people –rooftop parties. Laughter. We make plans. Take vacays. Go to the beach. Get tan lines that eventually fade away but the memories will last you forever. We become sun kissed which brings about a dewy glow. Less foundation only light bb cream to turn up that dewy melanin glow to YouTube Vlogger status. Talking about makeup, BB creams have become my go to in hot summer months. Add a little dab of the concealer, light powder, lipstick and it a done deal. I am never fussy with my makeup. Let me know if you want a post on the products I use especially in this heat.
I have a few projects that I am ready to attack this new season thus stepping out like a gladiator, in a flowy of shoulder Boho dress from my TOBI collaboration. I love flowy light dresses for summer nothing too constricting and Tobi has so many amazing styles to get you all glam this summer. I definitely see myself rocking this Boho dress at a beach somewhere. I smell a vacay :)
And because every summer has a story. May yours be an amazing one!!
Boho Dress: Tobi
Sandals: Zara
WIDE - LEG JUMPSUIT
Yesterday my buddy Shiro and I were talking about the Law of attraction over shredded chicken, black beans, plantains and mixed salad. We were having dinner at an Argentinian restaurant digesting our meal and sharing little nuggets of wisdom we have picked along the way. Like when you put things out there in the universe, affirm and claim them, they naturally gravitate to you.
It reminds me Napoleon Hill's quote, “ Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve. “
Shiro and I met at a house party after tilting a few cocktails and the regular small talk, we discovered we both enjoyed regular dates with gymmy. I had just moved to New York and was looking for gym bud. The universe answered. A week later we were in the gym throwing dumbbells on the floor and giving each other high fives
This week was a mentally challenging week for me. My go to retreat for those funky weeks consist of sketching, music, ted talks, and reading novels but they were not working. I tend to retreat in a shell until the storm is over because energies are easily transferable and who wants to kick it with one totting about a funky cloudy one?
Anyway, I talked it out with two of my fave buddies, cried it out and had a mental get it together Ro talk and now we are back. Not every day is sunny and flowery. There are days I want to sit in bed enjoying a pint of Talenti, watch Bosch, and pretend that the world is fine when it feels like the world is burning. all around me.
I treat this blog as a happy place, there is so much negative that resolves around the world and this little platform is a ray of sunshine where you hopefully get encouraged or inspired. However, I would not be honest with myself if I do not share the struggles that are part and parcel of my daily life. This blog is a journey, and like all journey's there are set backs, roadblocks, push backs and so much that comes along the way. I am my worst critic, I have doubts, at times I want to give up but it's how I handle these struggle days and keep on going that really matters. We grow through what we go through.
I read an amazing blurb that went like this, “A ship does not sink because of the water around them. A ship sinks because of the water that gets in them. Do not let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down.” So beautiful!!
We are always communicating with the universe. We give off vibrations. Good vibes will attract feel good vibes.
I hope that this post encourages you to hang in tight especially if you are going through the motions, these storms don't last forever. It will break eventually. Be grateful and do not take anything for granted.
Today’s look is another winner from my collaboration with Tobi.com. This wide leg jumpsuit is the perfect look to usher in summer. It’s light, airy and hugs the curves in all the right places. Black is such a sophisticated color, you can play it up or pay it down and it still looks chic. I played it up! Way up!! :)
FLOWER SHOP
The flower shop and the fabric store are the two places where my indecisiveness takes over. I could spend hours just staring at beautiful vibrant petals. The colors just blending in like a glorious work of art. Each blooming, each blossoming. I want everything. I have to step back and have a mental talk with myself.
Where are you going to put them all? Do you want to attract bees? Ok go with the purple, no yellow, may be pink it’s everywhere. Just pick two or three! Or that dozen for $20 deal that they have. I have to be cut throat at times. I go about it like America’s got Talent elimination round.
So as all this was going through my head like a movie reel, a couple stopped by and started looking at the flowers as well.
As I was wondering what flowers to take home with me, I looked up and found the lady looking at me. She had a big smile on her face. I had to smile back. Smiles are so damn infectious.
I love your shoes. You look gorgeous.
Well! I must have blossomed like the rose next me. Compliments will do that :)
Why thank you. You are stunning yourself.
And that started a litany of compliments that bounced back and forth like a tennis ball.
Love your hair!
No stop!! That bald look you rockin it! Those shoes, the dress... yass!!
Thank you. Your skin is glowin. I mean.....
Her man was just smiling as he continued perusing the flowers.
We ended up chatting a bit and at the end of it all, we were two best friends hugging it all out and having Arthur capture such an organic moment on the side walk was great.
Later that day, I thought about this chance encounter and many others which make me fall in love with New York City every day. It’s organic. How wonderful it is to just meet someone randomly, start a conversation and soak in it.
It's amazing how a simple compliment will make someone's day. Like flowers, we all have our beauty, we all blossom and bloom differently and as that saying goes, a flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.
So give your cashier at the grocery store a compliment today, or that pharmacist at your local Duane Reade, heck, compliment the person on the que with you at starbucks or at the bank. Hand out those compliments like roses. Make someone's day.
This beautiful scalloped dress I'm wearing is thanks to TOBI.COM . I collaborated with them for this post. I live for comfort and when I saw this pretty pink shift dress, I knew I had to have it. They have beautiful dresses to get you ready for summer!
MY MOTHER AND I - AND THE CITY
Mother’s day was amazing this year. My mum was visiting from Kenya and I got to take her with me to New York.
On arrival, we grabbed an Uber and headed to my place. As we quietly watched the buildings zoom by, my mother mentioned that she had studied this particular island in her geography classes way back when she was in high school.
I tried to picture my mum, a svelte young student, with bright eyes, cropped hair and a big smile looking on as her teacher pointed out Manhattan on the map. And now here she was visiting her daughter in that exact Island from her Geography days.
My obsession with New York City started when I was twelve years old. At the time I was dedicated to my tom boy ways. Scaling walls, running barefoot, circling unused tires all over the neighborhood, climbing trees. I wore scrapes on my knees as scars of honor. But fashion crept up on me, like a grey mist in early morning. A mist that has never left. I loved looking at magazines and pictures of this city that was speckled with yellow cars everywhere. I watched shows, I repeated addresses softly when watching them pop up on Law and Order, 8th and 31st, 153rd and Broadway... yup! Got it.
It wasn't just living in this city, it was about experiencing everything it had to offer and two years later, what a ride this has been.
My mum spent a glorious week with me and at the end she was walking faster than me. Reminding me of her days where she competed in brisk walking aka walking race. That cracked me up! Swiping her metro card like a pro. Maneuvering the aisles at the grocery store, posing for pics on a random street and the famous walk and talk on snapchat.
I read about writing prompts the other day. A sentence, a word, that acts as a jump start to your writing brain. It reminded me of compositions I wrote when I was in Primary school. These prompts come in handy when you have nothing to say or when you have some much to say but you need to reel it in. I chewed on what to write after all it's my mother. I think she is the most amazing woman in the world. A queen in her own right. Like a nervous writer reporting on the Queen, a writing prompt would come in handy.
Thank you for being you and being solid in your own identity. It's something I will forever emulate. Thank you for wanting to iron my shirt in the morning which somehow stunned me but reminded me that I am always your little baby girl. Thank you for chuckling at my nutrition habits, yes I was once vegan, now I can’t wait to rip the meat of the bone again. Thank you for embracing Mr. Squirrel, the neighbor. Thank you for going up those flights of stairs like a pro despite that knee giving you trouble. Thank you for coming to this shoot with me and patiently watching what happens behind the scenes. Thank you for bringing those Abunwasi like AKALAS even though there’s nothing fascinating about them. You understand my quirkiness and let me be. Thank you for my amazing siblings. Thank you for the subtle shade, Flo and I live for those comments. And on subtlety, thank you for teaching me that things said with the most demure manner still can be effective. Thank you for the laughs and reminding me that laughter can cure almost anything. Thank you for calling my blog A confessional. I still burst out laughing about that because it really is a confessional. Thank you for showing me how to own my queendom. Thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for molding me into the lady I have become. Thank you............
When it comes to our mother's there is so much we could say. So many stories to share. Stories that warm our hearts. For me this past week was extra special. I got to enjoy it with a woman who gave birth to me, supports my dreams, and encourages me to live my truth I have nothing but gratitude mama. I Love you.
Skirt: Roshie Anne
Denim Top: Express (Borrowed from Flo)
Sweater: HM
Shoes: HM
Bag: Maasai Market