Mapiful: The Perfect Just Because or Valentine's Day Gift

Let me preface this by saying that my husband and I usually don't buy each other gifts for special occasions. When we first starting dating 6 years ago we decided that we never wanted to use a holiday as a reason to gift each other something special, so we randomly give each other gifts just because. For example, my husband got tired of me borrowing his air pods last week so he decided to gift me my own pair haha. Around the holidays my husband mentioned missing home. He's originally from Tobago and has always wanted our family to visit for Christmas. Due to covid and work schedules, visiting the Island was not possible last year. So when Mapiful reached out to gift me with a custom print, I thought this would be the perfect time to give him a piece of his native home right in our apartment. So we went on the Mapiful website and designed a Trinidad & Tobago map just for him! He insisted on it being red, white and black because those are the country's national colors. With Valentine's day approaching in a few weeks I thought a Mapiful print would make a perfect gift for your special someone!

Boho Chic: Fringe Sweater & Yellow Faux Leather

Style: One of my favorite things to wear in the winter is a chinky knit sweater! I love this sweater from Lovestitch because it's warm, stylish and unique. The tassels pretty much made me get it and the neutral hues make it contrast well with bright colors like this yellow skirt I got from Zara a few years ago. I can also see this sweater going great with with denim or black faux leather pants for alternate looks. How would you style it?

Food for thought: Don't let a cloudy day dim your light. As you can see, I shot this outfit on a cloudy day and clearly it sparked a message. As you walk through this week remember that you can't always control your environment, but you can control how you respond to it. No day is perfect but your attitude can make a rough day better and a good day great. So be the light your environment is lacking and have a blessed week!

All You Have Is All You Need + Styling A Striped Sweater

I heard some say that "all you have is all you need" and that really resonated with me. How many times have we told ourselves that we are not equipped to to do one thing or another because we lack the resources. The truth is that if what you want to do is in alignment with your purpose, you already have what you need to start or continue. It's natural to want more. I want more money so I can buy a house, go on multiple vacations a year, buy more things I don't need and the list goes on. I want more time so I can put more energy into content creation, spend more time with my family, spend more time with my friends in person than on the phone...you get the point. 

Sweater-Asos (old) | Jeans-Old Navy | Ankle Boots- Target (old)

Truth is, maybe I don't need more, I just need to be a better steward of what I already have in this season. If I save more aggressively I can buy a house sooner and go on more than one or two vacations a year. That means I have to stop spending $50 here and $100 there on things I don't really need each month because those dollars add up. There are 24 hours in a day and that's never going to change, so I have to set more boundaries for myself to manage my time better. That could mean batch creating content on the weekend, respecting my screen time boundaries so I can spend more time investing into me than endlessly scrolling. Now, I started doing these things already and I'm already seeing the difference in my life. Lately my prayers have been less of Lord give me more and Lord help me to be a better steward of all that you have given me and He's shown me that all I have is all I need. If this blog post blessed you, share it with someone. Let's uplift each other!

Hello 2021! New Year, New Goals?

Happy new year and hello 2021! One thing last year taught us is to prepare for surprises and be ready for blessings at all times. I quietly jotted down a list of goals/prayer request to God for this year on January first, but I still plan on writing down more along with some action plans. The truth is I feel like I need a few uninterrupted hours to sit in silence, think and write and I have been too tired to wake up a few hours before my son to do that yet. However, I hope to make that happen this week. So if you have yet to write down all your goals for this year, make a vision board or perform whatever new year ritual helps you set your intentions for the year, you're not alone. I've also come to realize that we don't need to set all our goals for the year in January. You can make a decision to accomplish new goals as they come to you. If last year was tough on you and your only goal for this year is to survive and be better than you were yesterday, last week or last year, that is okay too. Don't necessary pressure on yourself and preserve your mental health at all costs.

Many of the goals I wrote down on Friday are a continuation of goals I achieved last year and intend to keep building on. For example one of my goals last year was to collaborate with brands I love and I was able to do that by the grace of God! This year, I plan on continuing with brands that resonate with my style and that I think you, my audience will enjoy. This sweater I'm wearing is from collaboration with Lovestitch. I was drawn to this sweater because of the colors and the fact that I can style it multiple ways. I opted to pair it with denim but think it would also look great with corduroys. I was also really impressed with the quality and warmth of this sweater and can tell that it will last for years to come.

Sweater- Lovestitch | Jeans- H&M | Shoes- Vionic

Working Overtime: 2020 Reflection

 

Shoutout to everyone that worked overtime this year. Whether that looked like taking on more hours at work, tackling home schooling on top of your responsibilities, finding ways to pour into your children/partner/loved ones even when you felt like you barely had energy to give after long days, or making space to pursue your dreams and goals even when it required you to sacrifice time in other areas of your life. I see you and the work you put in is paying off!

I know this year brought many of us to our knees in anguish, prayer and exhaustion. This year also brought its share of joy along with feelings of accomplishment for many of us.

This year had me questioning multiple times if I can be the mother I want to be with the career I want to have while continuously tacking other goals. While many people were working from home spending extra time with their children, I spent longer days away from my son at work. Mom guilt definitely crept in at times (especially over the last 4 months) but I pushed passed that and kept going reminded that I'm working my dreams, his future and the needs of my family. Yet someone I made progress as a mother and an individual by the grace of God. The progress was not easy to achieve but that's what made me appreciate it even more. Being a young mom with a career and dreams for my family and myself is a lot to juggle but 2020 reminded me that progress is always possible with the strength of God, discipline and determination, even in a pandemic.

How to Style Leather Pants & Things to Remember

It's no secret that leather and faux leather pants, skirts, jackets, basically everything leather are in right now! I've been a fan of leather and faux leather clothing forever so this year is no exception. I styled these Asos pants I bought earlier in the fall with a corset top from a few years ago I bought in Zara. The great thing about leather and faux leather clothing is that there are so many ways to style them and they almost always make your outfit look edgier.

                                          

Top-Zara | Pants- Asos | Shoes- Nine West

Now that we've discussed style, let's talk life. You know I love talking about style but I also always want to make sure I share food for thought that will help us as we navigate through the day, week, and moments ahead.

Things to remember this week:

• You can be nice and not tolerate nonsense. Being a polite person does not equate to a pushover
• You can be strong and exhausted. Listen to the signs your body gives you
• You can be a boss in or a few areas of your life and a work in progress in other areas. It's okay to ask for help.
• You can love the person you are today while taking strides to become a better version of yourself as time progresses
• No is a complete sentence. Everything does not require an explanation.

What would you add to the list to help you through the week?

A Good Kind of Monday Blues+Style

 

Hat- Target | Top-Zara | Jean- Old Navy | Shoes- Nine West

A winning week starts with a winning mindset! When you encounter challenges during the week, remember that success stories are always proceeded by challenges. So don't let temporary setbacks stop you from achieving your goals. Whenever I find myself in a challenging situation, one thing that always helps is pausing to identify what I can control. Then I strategizing a plan of action, seek direction from God and help from any people in my corner to dive into solving the challenge. Pace yourself, and remember that small progress is still progress. You were built to handle whatever comes your way. Let's slay this week!

On a side note, the only blues I like dealing with relate to style and I had fun putting this look together. This top is sold out but if you follow me on liketoknowit, you'll see some similar tops. Have a great week!