things i love (thursday)

A rack of Hervé Léger that gives me heart palpitations. One day. I’m (humbly) growing my collection of bandage dresses, one dress at a time.

+ Sorbet colored nails. Specifically newly acquired bottles of Essie’s “A Crewed Interest” and Revlon’s “Blue Lagoon.” One a beautiful pastel peach, the other the prettiest of light blues strewn with fine specks of glitter, both delicious against a tan. They remind me of summer, even when in a window-less office for eight hours. It’s amazing how color is so transformative and influential.

+ Back to being a working girl. Not that I ever stopped. While I enjoyed the flexibility that came with working as, essentially, a freelancer, I loved stepping foot into an office again, more. Sure, dressing up is part of the fun, but being around people – always buzzing, always brainstorming – and being physically part of something, is invigorating.

+ Bowls of fruit. Watermelon. Kiwi. Strawberries. All freshly diced and sliced to bring color and undeniable juiciness into the world. Sweet and tangy, all in a bit. This must be what summer in heaven tastes like.

+ Bellydancing. It feels so good to be a woman. So good. Did I tell you – my hip scarf never leaves my handbag.

+ Tropical floral prints. It’s all I see and all I want. Pencil skirts, dresses, bikinis. In an island print or darker, Peter Pilotti pattern, I have no discretion. I don’t think I’ve ever loved – nonetheless liked – a trend so much. Zara and Webster Miami for Target – you do me proud.

.   .   .

x

P.S.: A few weeks ago I was given the “Sunshine Award” by Kelly Ann – thank you love!

 {image via}

just took my first bellydancing class.

I just took my first bellydancing class.

Actually, let me re-write that statement. It needs exclamation points to properly exude my current emotional state.

I just took my first bellydancing class!!

Two exclamations for good luck and emphasis (I like my things in even numbers). It was perhaps one of the best workouts of my life, not to mention, a chance to do something I’ve always wanted to do. Shoulders. Chest. Hips. Thighs. I felt it – truly felt it – from head to toe.

That’s the beauty of all things which make me feel flexible, bendy, and powerful. I can control my body and how it moves; slight hits, elongated snake arms, tiny staccato shimmies, or drawn-out figure eights. Sensual? Or coy? Muscles burn, but I can’t help but want to keep going. Push through. I can do it.

The teacher – probably in her late forties – was beautiful. Exotic, serene, and simply beautiful. I couldn’t stop watching her. Even before she took her position up front, even before I knew who she was, I knew who she was. There she was, a crochet sarong – demure in a sea of brightly colored and well-ornamented waists – tied low on her hips. She was blessed with one of those small frames that couldn’t be overlooked no matter how petite she seemed; there was a presence about her. Commanding. Enticing. Knowing. Perhaps it was the waist-length hair, waves slightly frizzed from the humidity and sweat, pulled half up, half down. Au naturel. Or maybe it was those wide doe eyes; she’d occasionally wink as she looked about the studio at her students.

You could only imagine my surprise when she singled me out. “You’re a dancer, right?” She paused only to smile. “I can tell.”

I didn’t even get to answer.

But what I did get to do, however, was buy myself a hip scarf. It’s something I’ve wanted for the longest time and finally have; silly? Perhaps. Little things make me happy. The only difficult part was choosing; there were so many options. Lavender. A deep purple. Blues. Bright kelly greens. White. Silver or gold coins? Nearly every color and combination piled before me on the wooden table, each neatly folded in their respective plastic bags. There wasn’t any orange scarves, though.

The black one, strewn with gold beads and gold coins, came home with me tonight.

.   .   .

x

pearls of wisdom: the brightness of being

When things get hectic and therefore stressful, I forget to breathe. In. Out. I drown myself in a standard uniform of black head to toe because it’s safe, unobtrusive. It’s when I wear black for all the wrong reasons. Black is power in sleek and strength, not to be misused as a cloak to hide behind.

A few days a go I saw Cory Booker‘s update:

“I find that stress and worry about a problem [undermines] the spirit and the creative energy needed to overcome the challenge.”

 It does. It hinders and holds you back – it’s something I need to remember. Small steps, baby steps, like slipping into your first pair of heels.

Surrounding myself with brightness and light creates a world of a difference. It changes the air to something lighter, brighter, happier. It’s not just the power of positive dressing, but the ability to change your environment to suit your needs. We can take our emotions into our own hands; let not your emotions control you. Think with your mind, do with your heart – it’s a completely different thing.

Happy Monday!

.   .   .

x

{images via}

things i love (thursday)

I haven’t done one of these in a while; I’m at a place where I should. It’s less of a need to express gratitude, but a desire to. It’s the key to independence and the key to opening all doors of possibilities.

Be grateful. Give thanks. It’s the littlest things in life that make all the difference – keep your eyes up and heart open. These are the things that I love and make me love…

+ It’s my brother’s birthday today – happy 17th! I can’t even begin to express just how blessed I am to have such an amazing guy in my life. Wishing I was home to celebrate his new driver’s license and his special day with one too many slices of cake. ♥

+ Beautiful, beautiful friends, whose hearts are worth their weight in gold. Inside and out. I love the late night pillow-talks and the spontaneous phone calls. It’s both incredible and humbling to know that there are such strong girls out there who are paving their way towards success. Nothing will stop them – nothing. I’m honored to call them my best friends, my sisters, my soul mates.

+ Opportunities. Earlier this week I had photoshoot and interview with a university magazine recognizing my (humble!) achievements thus far. Sometimes you just need validation that what you’re doing is right; this is what I needed.

+ The smell of hairspray-clouded dressing rooms and the rush of hair and makeup, pre-show… I’ve missed it. So, so much; it’s been years since I’ve last performed in front of a crowd, and even more years since I’ve stepped foot in a performing hall. Performing this past weekend with my university dance company was what I needed to feel reignited. I want to dance again. Truly dance. Under the spotlight, in the stagelight.

+ Velour tracksuits. I fully endorse them. Do you think otherwise? Watch me zip up my hoodie defiantly; I am an advocate for comfort and practicality especially when they look so sweet. I’ve hoarded two sets in a Victoria’s Secret sale and can’t help but want more wear them all the time. As much as I can get away with without it bordering on being socially unacceptable. I’m clean, I promise.

+ Sweet little nothings.

.   .   .

x

{image via}

Editor’s Note: I realize that as I publish this, it will no longer have been Thursday. I refuse to change the title, I adore cheesy alliteration to no end.

maintenant: on my dresser top

Gucci cosmetics pouch | brushes, mascara, Buxom lipglosses (my favorite), lip liners, lash curler, Prestige eye liner | Versace Bright Crystal | YSL Rouge Pur Coutre no. 6 “Rose Bergamasque” | Naked Palette

.   .   .

x