Anne Roshie 12/25/17 Anne Roshie 12/25/17

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2017

Merry Christmas beautiful people!!

It really is the most wonderful time of the year! My gorgeous sister is in town and nothing makes me happier than bonding and laughing. Flo and I can never get bored. We always find ways to entertain ourselves even if it involves a mimosa induced dance session. I think 75% of the time is spent laughing. Our mother always said it's good for the soul and keeps your heart full.

Today's post is a short one. May you treasure the ones you love, keep them close to heart and never stop laughing. Even in difficult situations.

Merry Xmas to you and yours.

On Me

Coat: F21

Jeans: Express

Sweater & Boots: HM

Scarf: Zara

On Flo

Coat: Asos.com

Jean: Express

Sweater: Target

Boots: Bakers

Anne Roshie 12/21/17 Anne Roshie 12/21/17

UPTOWN

Failure. A word that used to put mind - numbing fear in me. What if I fail? A question that rings louder than a Sunday gong at the Basilica. Over and over again.

We are on the final days of the year 2017. With it comes with a lot of reflecting, trying to see if the goals set for the year were met. If an area was improved or slacked on, was anything learnt? At the end of the day, growth is what counts. Looking back and thinking, well damn, I did learn something. Who you are today, right now, is the result of the numerous circumstances you've had to deal with.

If someone gave you mitt gloves and told you to execute calligraphy with a delicate ink brush, you would look at them as if they are crazy. How about dancing makarena infront of a crowd, or jumping of a cliff, aka bunge jumping? Or trying to speak in front of a large crowd of people, using a teleprompter in a different language. Madness? Why would I want to embarrass myself this way. That’s somewhat extreme however the feeling that gets to you is fear, because you are being set up to fail. Same feeling you feel when you quit your job to do what you've always wanted to do, or moving to a new place. We fear failure because we tend to think we will embarrass ourselves, or our family or just choke. That thought is enough to stay in your perfect little corner.Your comfort zone. And as they say, it is a great place but nothing ever grows there. That’s why this feeling of ennui sets in - same old thing just a different day. It becomes this foggy, hazy space - you feel you could, would, be doing more, but you are just there. Bored out of your mind.

Purpose and intention is a huge motivator for me. I addressed the why question on this post and I know this for sure. My purpose or intention keeps me aligned to my goal. It wakes me up, it drives me. I keeps me going when I feel frustrated and even mentally exhausted. We are here for such a limited time, wouldn’t you want to live out your best life. That which you were created for?

I have been listening to Super Soul Sunday on my subway rides and I always learn something. It's a an amazing podcast and whenever you get a chance. Great conversations with spiritual leaders and writers of our time Listen to it and be inspired.

So as we turn the chapter to another new year, may these last few days be full of eye opening, reflective and hopefully have lessons that will carry you to the new year.

Keep working, keep trying, fail forward. Keep heading up - or uptown.

Jeans: Express

Boots: Shoedazzle.com

Bag: Zara

Maasai Scarf: Gifted

Jacket: GAP

Anne Roshie 12/15/17 Anne Roshie 12/15/17

HOLY GUACAMOLE

Is anyone going through a crazy sugar rush this holiday season? I know I am.

I love the holiday season. We tend to meet up, chat, spread some good ol holiday cheer andddd EAT! Holiday season is a ripe time for gaining back all the pounds we have been shedding off. I literally have to push myself to the gym to get in a work out. The frigid temperatures do not help either. All we want to do is stay indoors and keep munching.

I love anything avocado hence holy guacamole. I am being extra here – pun intended.

Do you guys have some favorite foods? Are there some dishes you are avoiding? Or are you like me thinking well, just a little bite which in turn becomes many bites later?

I do not want to do a new year’s resolution on Jan 1st on eating better and bla bla bla! So am thinking of ways to enjoy myself while still eating healthy.

And on that note – I mentioned EATS eons ago. The new content section dedicated to some great wellness recipes. I won’t say anything further until I start! Just start! As I always love saying then I will give you all a head up when we are up and running.

Happy Holidays!!

Dress: Vintage

Headwrap: Roshie Anne

Anne Roshie 12/12/17 Anne Roshie 12/12/17

THE WHY

Take time to smell the roses.

Starting off this new post with a little quip that reminds me to be present.
A few weeks ago, right around Thanksgiving, I was having brunch at my friend’s Fuza and we were chopping it up. About life, relationships, careers, the works.
After, I turned 5 with the blog I had all these plans ready to go but I stalled. Part of it was because I started doubting myself and questioning everything. Especially the why part if it. Why do I do this? Why do I invest it? Why do I write on here? Doubt? I brought the Why topic up and my friend Steph suggested I should write about it. aa-ha!
They were so many why’s I just wanted to skip to Z and get over it. I always believe that when this questions arise in life. You have to find the answers, avoiding it will not answer anything and it will make you doubt yourself even more.
I tried as humanly possible to avoid those questions. To go inside of me and pull the answers. The truth is sometimes hard to swallow. I was scared I would answer myself and end up not like that answer.
In avoiding, I did what I love to do best. Read new books, re-read old ones, flip through magazines, watch netflix, Ozarks anyone? I even started binging on OZ - the prison show from 1999. It was serious. It’s amazing how easy it is to block things you don’t want to deal with. Is that another definition of procrastination?

Now that I think about it, it really is it. Like that one time I knew I had to create a garment but watched Tv, cleaned, hit up a friend for a drink. Or that one time I had to deal with something, then I push it to the last agenda of the day.
Tackling uncomfortable truths is not fun. I am more than happy to delay that reality but the fact it, it is right there staring at you. Like the elephant in the room that needs to be addressed or like the stinky fish in the kitchen than needs to be taken out. No matter how hard you try to febreeze the house, melt scented wax, sage, use a sorts of wall plugins and scented candles, the fish is still stinking up the house. Even if you shut your eyes real tight, the elephant is still there. Comfy as can be.
So I went interior, used my non traditional methods of mediation to talk to self. When I say non traditional, I mean just that. Not sitting cross- legged and chanting oms but doing that thing that gets me in the flow state. This did not entail reading. Reading has always been my greatest form of escapism. Go to another person’s world and let your imagination go at it. Stare. Uninvolved.
My mediation entails a-lot of involvement. I use the gym as one, my regular workouts are so cleansing it’s beyond. Running was another one, every time my foot gets in front of another, more answers open up. And finally painting or sewing. My mind was in such a flow state that when the answers popped up. I was like aaahh haa! You been here the entire time.
So back to my answers, why do I do this?
One I am very passionate about it. This is a great time to share our narratives. I grew up seeing magazines and images that had no one like me. They shared ideals of how things should be, how to dress but I never felt like it was for me. Most black creatives now are sharing their narratives and it’s a beautiful thing to see. I love it.
Second, we all have stories to tell. My hope is that someone out there will be inspired to share your stories, you do not know how it will touch someone else.
Three, writing this in itself is healing. I discover myself over and over every-time I jot a post down, create or curate content, I too learn something. It’s like the more I share, the more I discover. It’s freaking awesome.
And finally, because when you are handed a gift by the most high, you don’t stare at it. You reach for it, say thank you and use it to the best of your abilities.
I am grateful, so grateful for this platform everyday and despite the questions, the moments of self- doubt which are totally human, the anxiety, the turbulent storm that this process may be, I stick with it. Storms eventually break that’s why I love to say trust the process.
It’s year 5 and I felt this great platform needed a little rebranding. This year my one goal for the blog was to have beautiful visuals. I am blessed to have connected with individuals who have been able to translate my ideas or visions for a look into stunning imagery. The universe has a way of responding to us that never ceases to amaze me. That’s how I met Jessica, my neighbour down the street and my current photographer.

With re-branding of the site, the visuals have become the focal point. The site is user friendly and now you can even scroll to a 2014 post without clicking gazzilion times. I love this new look and I hope you will too.
Thank you my dear reader for stopping by. For my new readers, welcome to a space where I share this journey.
For this look, we ended up doing a night shoot since nightfall is upon us by 3:30pm. There are alot of holiday parties going on currently and I get the chance to play up with looks you have seen before but in different way.
The dress you have seen here, the coat here.
We chose the bodega because there is one in almost every corner of New York City and I walk by one constantly. In the name of being busy or staring at the phones, we tend to forget to be present. To look around and be grateful of where you are in life and the things that have brought you here. Now. today. So stop and smell the roses, experience the beauty of life.