SUMMER 18
Pardon me while I dust this little corner of mine on the web. I took some time off that was much needed and deserved. I had zero space for anything.
For those who do not know, I lost my darling brother Kimnation (KIM) Thirteen days after my last post on the JORD watch. He passed away April 26th. Every time I get on here to write something, I look at those dates and get shaken. I am reminded how short life is. He was my bestie, my cheerleader, my book buddy, the list is endless.
I found it hard to sit and jot on this space which he also contributed to. I have never experienced death this close to home and my brother's passing shook me to the core!
I will be paying a tribute to him in the coming days and share some of the images he took of me in the earlier days of Anneconventional. He was always ready to pick up the camera at any time to shot with me. I miss him soooo sooo much. I miss his voice, his energy, his deep thoughtful conversations, his laugh. He was such a joy to be around.
His death is something I’m still grappling with! Even writing about it seems surreal.
A month ago when decided to link up with Jess - my dope photographer - I remember having no energy to sit and smile before the camera. So I told we should go have breakfast and chat about the blog's creative direction and just our lives.
The second time we linked up we took these photos. We took them during the golden hour. For photographers this is the ideal time to take pictures. Right before sunset or just about sunrise. The sun casts a golden hue which is divine. I needed to feel the sun on me. To feel it's rays caressing my skin. As for the smile, I can't say that is something that was entirely forced. The sun makes me smile. It gives me life and also reminds me that the sun will always rise, even on what might feel like your darkest day.
Summer 18 is upon us. With a new season, comes new changes. I want to share with you something I read a few days ago.
This summer, don't worry about the things you would be worrying about. Never turn down a chance to swim or lay at the beach. Listen to music. Make it loud. Watch sunsets more than TV. Stop worrying about someone ignoring your texts, they don't matter right now. Don't care about what people say or think. Ignore it. Eat well. Dance to the song in your head. Be with friends that matter most. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Do something unpredictable or something you normally wouldn't. Stay up all night. Sleep in. Do whatever the hell you want (within legal limits) because it's summer. And summer is meant for fun. Take risks or you will lose a chance. Because sooner or later, summer will come to an end. Don't end your summer with regrets.
Make the most of it. Live!! SUMMER 18
So happy to be back :)
PHOTOGRAPHY: JESSICA CURLDERON
WHERE TO SHOP FOR UNIQUE TIME PIECES
“The trouble is, you think you have time.”
A quote that I reflect on now and then, it reminds me to do the things I have always
wanted to do. Time is the only luxury we have. On my last post mentioned talked about questions and how it's important to live them. Questions like am I doing what it takes to get me near my goal every day?
For example, to run a full marathon 26,2 miles, one needs to start training early. To put in the miles. Two miles become 4, the 8 then 16 then 20 miles. But you have to slowly build towards it. It will take time, you need to put in that time. The same goes for everything. Education, a solid relationship, your craft, we can go on forever. Malcolm Gladwell calls it putting in your 10000 hours.
With all this talk about time and hours, how about getting a unique timepiece on your wrist?
I have never owned a watch. I was always that person who always asked what time it was and forver scrambling in my bag to get my phone so I could tell the time.
It wasn’t until I saw a JORD watch and I knew I had to have it. I have partnered with JORD watches for their Spring campaign.
These watches are beyond fab,. They are beautifully designed, chic, and entirely made out of wood. You can have them engraved with a message to your loved one, or to self. I know mine would be covered with quotes. They have watches for both men and women.
I was drawn to the Frankie – Purple Heart watch which caught my eye and blinded me to all the other watches. Freaking stunning!! I will wear it with everything lol
I am currently doing a MAJOR MAJOR GIVEAWAY. You, my dear reader will get a chance of getting $100 towards a chic Jord watch of your own.
All you need to do is FILL in the info on this link and baam! You might be rocking a classic timepiece. The giveaway is open until April 29th and the winner will be announced shortly after. If you don't nab the $100 don't worry my friend, you get a 10% discount just for entering in the giveaway.
Seize the day!!
Sneakers: Brooks
Dress: HM
Tights: Express
Hat: Zara
COFFEE TALK
Have you ever felt just a little bit overwhelmed? At the numerous things you have taken on, knowingly or unknowingly and scared shitless that all the balls you are trying to juggle will hit the floor? Then what?
Like this marathon that I promised my brother I would do this year. Or the shop that currently is an archived segment of this blog. I dread logging on nowadays because for some reason, it is still there waiting. If this was an actual brick and mortar store, the shelves would be sad and bare as if a storm was passing by and everyone had grabbed everything. And the art classes that I took on. These art classes frustrate the life of me. They make me uncomfortable and challenged beyond! Where at the end of the week, close to 40 sketches need to be submitted, on a 18 by 24 sketchbook. Did I say every week? Yeah! Then there is the mind, and soul - some spiritual food is mandatory, and the gym dates, then the scheduled blog posts, then the most important people in my life because like all things, relationships are to be nurtured.
I find that I am sleeping less, and up more, constantly on the next thing, the next item, the next...
Sometimes, I want things to move really fast, I get a tad impatient. But that soft voice somewhere keeps telling me to enjoy the process. The process! That process is bane of my existence. It can sap your strength, drain your mojo, get you all worried and doubtful, and any positive mantras you picked up go through a process of sublimation, and disappear in thin air. Nothing solid here.
I really don't want to reason with that voice. It's making sense and all I want to do is whine!
Gary Vee calls it eating shit. Well, ain't that delicious!
This post was to be published a couple weeks ago. But I delayed it. The end! For two whole weeks! Ah well, I said I won't be hard on myself.
I allow myself to be honest and even vulnerable on this platform. I, selfishly, write for self, then share it with you because I always think that somewhere, out there, there is someone going through the same thing. This process. Someone has a napkin on, eating shit!
It also becomes a cleansing of some sort. To write what feels true in what my everyday life offers, the challenges, the desires, the frustrations - to describe them with sincerity. To live my truth. I ask questions, and most importantly to myself. Sometimes, I don't have the answers but I try to live with these questions. Daily. Then perhaps, in the near future, the answers will stroll along.
Trust the process, be ready to eat shit! Training for this Marathon is a true definition of eating shit. I keep making excuses but I promised to do it, and I am not one to break a promise. I'm using this training process as a guide to my life right now. It's like throwing a stone in the pond and watching the ripples it makes extend to another, then another then another.
It's weird how things are connected. Out there running, my body is being pushed to its limits, my mind fired up with every mile. Training for a marathon is hard. So is life. One thing I really love about the post running feel is the mental clarity that it brings. A few ah-ha moments.
I told myself not to be hard because I took a couple weeks off. The dots eventually connect. Perhaps that's how it was meant to be. To shut down the mental computer that this brain is and reflect, read, run, reconnect, and realize that, as we go through the THIS and THATS that is life. It's ok to quiet the mind and that the question you are living, with no answers, will find you sipping coffee in a little cafe, or sorting through laundry, or even in the heaving of your breath on that run.
The answers will find you eventually, at a time & space you need them. For there some questions we ask ourselves in life, that we are not ready for the answers at the current space we are in. And even if we got them, we would not know what to do with them. Keep living, ask questions.
Trust the process!
PHOTOGRAPHY: JESS CURLDERON
Dress: Thrifted Vinatage
Shoes: Zara
CASUAL IN TRIBECA
Today’s post is a quick short one starting off with a weather report. Ha! Spring has not yet made an appearance, it’s tardy as usual. It’s snowed sometime time this past week and melted the next day! Gone like nothing happened. The sun is currently teasing us with hints of what to come. I was thoroughly teased that I had the baldie exposed albeit for 5 minutes. Ah.. sigh!
I can’t wait to have it out in its full magnificence J
I like exploring different areas of Manhattan. SoHo and Tribeca are always a favorite of mine because every block seems different. Perfect for a shot then a quick dash to Blick for some art supplies.
I later caught up with my pal Briana and headed over to Chinatown for a Full body massage. My body has been so tight and sore from working out with knots and I knew a full body massage would come in handy.
We later had Pho and caught each other up with the happenings of our lives. I love when I get facetime with my friends. Away from the chatter on social. Just put away you phone and catch up as if it’s 94.
Our reconnecting reminded me that in as much as we riding different boats in this life, we are rocking the same waves. The waves of work, social life, relationships, commitments. Endless waves.
All in all, it was a much needed girl time.
Today am rocking a teddy red coat – Teddy because of its teddy bear-ish texture. I paired it with The Hippie hoodie which is so soft and cozy gave me all the feels. Donned my go to pair of converse.
Red Teddy Coat: ASOS
Hoodie: The Hippie
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Converse