What It Is Right Now...

1. I'll Take These Please!!!!
Maison Martin Margiela
Cut-Out Knee-High Boot

2.So vintage, so right now...
Jenny Bird Deco Clutch


3. Petals Pendant
Ruff & Cut Jewelry -" the marriage of this beauty with recycled metals in organic shapes and distinctive silhouettes articulates and honors the singular splendor of the land and the peoples who bring these precious things into the world."

4.Toni Morrison's A Mercy
I read it in two days- beautiful...



5. Kanye's 808's and Heartbreak....
He is a visionary and willing to push himself beyond his own abilities...You can't deny the abounding passion, soul and nakedness he lays before us...

Enjoy Every Moment...

I know I am so late on this but I finally saw The Diving Bell and The Butterfly via the miracle of Netflix. I was blown away by the whole thing. (Selfishly, it's a great movie to watch if you're learning French), but just the simple idea of one day you're living your life as a successful editor of Elle Magazine and the next minute, without anyone crashing into you, or any seemingly risky circumstances you could be unable to move except to blink your eye. I know that I am particularly blessed because not only do I have full facility of my limbs but I am also a professional dancer. I am aware of how one flaw, even something temporary such as scab on my knee or ankle, a cut on my finger, any little thing can throw off my body from being at its top function for dance. Sometimes I wonder what I will be like when I'm old. I try not to push past the little old hunch backed ladies in the subways because I recognize that could be me one of these days. I'm pushing my my body to the max and sometimes I feel like I have the knees of a 60 year old at 27. But just driving down the road one day and boom paralyzed completely?! I hope I can stay in this humble moment I feel of sheer gratefulness on a regular basis...I am beautiful and richly lavished with blessings...

Santa Baby...

This year, in lieu of the recession my family and I have decided that we will be giving to our favorite charitable organizations instead of spending money on stuff. We all have more than enough stuff. On Christmas day only stocking stuffers under $25 and the announcement of which organizations we gave to. However......(glittery, sparkly fairy tale music coming in now) this is what I would really ask for from Santa:

1. A Goyard Mini-Trunk. So sturdy, so classic, so rare, and so goregous. This is what I would love to stuff my 3 oz liquids in!



2. Louboutin's!

Sooo fierce! I'd love to strut around for the evening in these. Of course if taxi cabs are involved, often and frequent.

3. A Vacation to the Cote D'Azure. Yes honey. Lounging around on the beach, eating beautiful meals, practicing my French, and staying in a Versailles inspired suite. Yes.....



4. A Tiffany Buckle Necklace.
It's ONLY 34 Carats and more than price of my NC townhouse! Every girl needs a little bling...right?


5. A New Journal for every month.
Why try to cram it all in? I can feel free to journal everyday, dream imagine, and anything else.



6. A 2009 Mercedes CLK 350 Convertible
For flitting around the good old U.S.of A. Gas prices are down. Road trip anyone???

What Are You Thankful For...

Because Thanksgiving is about so much more than food, I want to charge everyone with writing a list of the top 100 things that they are most thankful for. It can be as small as being thankful for being able to breathe everyday, the first 100 things that come to mind....Let me know how it turns out!

WE DID IT AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Afraid to be happy?

Right now I'm really happy. REALLY REALLY HAPPY. And it scares me to the point of tears and weeping. Everything is going really well for me. I'm warm and well fed, carving out my own way in the world, doing what I want to do, working hard, dangerously in love, successful in my career, and surrounded by loving friendships. Yet, I am afraid to rest in my joy. I am afraid to rest in my contentment. Afraid that someone is going to pull the rug out under me. I mean look at Jennifer Hudson, she's carved out her own way, Oscar winner, new movie, new solo album, and then someone comes and kills her family! Although I've read this scripture, ..."I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:11-12, I have always looked at it one sided. I never realized how challenging it can be to be content when you actually have everything you NEED. Our society functions mostly on people being unsatisfied. That's seems to drive capitalism. If we were content with what we actually had many many institutions would go out of business. But, anyway, I don't want to be afraid to be happy. I don't want to be driven by fear. I want to be driven by grace, compassion and love. I don't want to be great because I'm better than her over there. I want to be great because I am me. I want to be courageous in my happiness and confident that regardless of my circumstances or even if everything that is contributing to my happiness now that is outside of me and my control that if it all falls apart that I will endure. And endure in joy. Maybe that's the secret....
"When God gives people wealth and possessions, and the ABILITY TO ENJOY THEM, to accept their lot and be HAPPY in their toil-this is a gift of God" Ecclesiastes 5:19

On Materialism, I mean fashion....

Last October 19th in 2007 I decided to do an extreme fast. No buying of any clothes, shoes, or accessories for myself unless it was of absolute need or a replacement. For example if my jeans ripped I could buy a new pair or if I needed a new leotard for a performance. Other than that nothing, zip, zilch, nada. I knew it would be challenging but I had hoped that I would learn to be grateful for all that I had and not be so quick to buy buy buy. Since I looove fashion I knew it would be a great sacrifice.
Well I made it! It wasn't easy. I learned so much about myself and I wanted to share it with you.

1. You don't need a lot of clothes to be fashionable.
I had a lot of clothes with a continual thirst for more. Inspired by this article of this fashion designer who only wore gray and her closet was half the size of mine, I began to purge. Not only did I not buy anything that wasn't a necessity but I also I gave away at least 4-6 large shopping bags of clothes and shoes over the course of this year. I began to put my creativity to work and focused on accessorizing.

2. Do your laundry often.
I realized when I wanted to shop the most it was when my clothes were in the dirty clothes hamper! I had forgotten all about them and I was tempted to shop. Also, carrying 3-4 large bundles of laundry down the three flights of my Brownstone apt building made me not want ANY more clothes.

3. Know your body type.
Understanding what looks best on your silhouette makes a world of difference and will save you a lot of time. For my athletically curvy figure, dresses and skirts, especially A line or vintage always looks great and modest.

4. You can wear the same thing over again.
It's not the end of the world. Change up your shoes, add a belt, wear a sweater over it. No one will notice. And if they do, WHO CARES!!!!

5. When you buy, buy quality.
It's better to have a few favorite quality pieces than a whole bunch of cheaply made things. Cheaply made things fall apart. You also can not always know the quality based on the price. Just because a pair of shoes costs $200 doesn't mean that its well made. You can find QUALITY items at a boutique or at the Salvation Army. You must examine where it's made and what it's made out of. ( Most things made before the 1990's are much better quality. That was before outsourcing and when people actually cared about the quality of their work) Only invest in timeless pieces. Unless you're Rihanna don't buy a military print Louis Vuitton bag. If you're going to invest in something like a Christian Louboutin pump or a Dior coat make sure it's something that can be worn season after season.

Overall, I believe I have a more discerning eye and appreciation for what I already have. I am also not afraid now to give away. If it doesn't fit quite right, or I haven't worn it in a year or I just don't NEED it I will sell it at Beacon's Closet or donate it to the Goodwill. While it's fun to look fabulous, this challenge also helped me to grow in my confidence of my inner beauty which is more valuable to God. With the recession looming over us, I am sure we'll all have to cut corners wherever we can.