Simple Joy

Hello beautiful people!  

I've got to say, joy that seems to come from nowhere in particular is the best.  Sometimes your life is just fine, nothing devastating or horrible to be concerned about but nothing to jump on a couch about either.  Content without a smile.  Then something as simple as dressing up or getting home safely late at night can fill you with joy (and some serious excited energy).  This happened to me a few weeks ago when I went home and went out with my mom and sister.  To express joy just because...begets more joy, eh?

My mom told me to bring something to wear for a graduate school send-off party and a bridal shower (really, a pre-wedding party that didn't start until midnight).  I packed two outfit options.  When it came time to get dressed I decided to raid my sister's closet and pulled out this simple Prabal Gurung for Target dress.  I was drawn to its print and lack of zippers, cinched waist, or inner lining.  The shoes I'd brought with me were no good, but surprise! there were these pink heels that had been in my closet for six actual years (maybe more) and I don't recall ever wearing them anywhere.  I strategically pinned up my hair and then added silver/shiny jewelry and a pink lipstick (Maybelline's Color Sensational Vivids in Vivid Rose).  Look good, feel good!

*We took photos after coming home close to 3 am when we should have been beat and flopping straight onto the bed to sleep.

Outfit Details

Prabal Gurung for Target First Date printed dress // Michael Antonio lace-up heels // JewelMint Forever Audrey earrings // JewelMint Frosty Florals necklace // super old silver bracelets and bangle 

I hope you find some simple joy today.  Or just create it yourself, from within, no matter what may be happening in your life.  And if times is hard and things are a'changin', continue to look up (and forward) to get through.  xoxo

When On Summer Break...

this looks really green...maybe crop out the walls next time?

the least Picasa can do to "improve"
Plus, I am a pro

flash used on the right
so interesting

I've been in a little transition period in the last month: completing my public health fellowship, moving from San Antonio to Houston, trying to get in some last hurrahs before starting graduate school, and basically acquiring more adult responsibility.  Because of that and the fact that I was without Internet in my apartment for longer than anticipated (and it's still temperamental at best), I haven't been doing the blogging thing.  Though I've wanted to...and not wanted to.

Not wanted to because my move means leaving my enclosed and private comfort zone for do-it-yourself self-photography and I always err on the side of extreme caution when putting things on my plate.  I'm thinking grad school might take up most of the plate.  No room for more, no need to pile it high and get overstuffed or wasteful.  I shared this with one of my aunties and she told me to keep it simple, that I could still do it if I wanted to but I didn't need to gallivant out into the world for grand photos.  Hmmm...true and yet, quality photos are important.  As if mine were the best (I'm still on the curviest learning curve)...

Trying out Warby Parker frames for the nth time

YELLOW!!!!

Anyway, the next couple of posts with feature a lot from the past.  For right now, this remixed repeat outfit was during my last days in San Antonio.  Indoors because it was too hot to even think about stepping outside but then I had a lot of trouble coping with the lighting.  I don't know what Picasa can do about it though. I tried.

Outfit Details

BCBG Max Azria skirt (Uptown Cheapskate) // H&M "oatmeal" colored tank (hidden) // AVA vest (whoa, this is on eBay)  // Sam Edelman sandals // Rachel Roy gold earrings // Steve Madden tiny cross body purse 

L-O-V-E-E-E

Love

There are several pop culture references popping up in my head right now... 

First, 

I went to the McNay Art Museum for the first time with my sister and the name makes me think of that stupidly fun song "Drop that #NaeNae."  (much respect to the late Marion Koogler McNay) I might have been a little too energetic while touring the museum (to the chagrin of my sister), shimmying and dancing around the art.  What a shame that I did not think to drop that NaeNae. ☹  

Second, 

I don't wanna give you the wrong impression, I need love and affection.

And I hope I'm not sounding too desperate, I need love and affection.

Love, love, love, love and affection.

Love, love, L-O-V-E-E-E and affection

--Loveeee, Rihanna feat. Future

Thanks to Future for his seal-ish wails and half the inspiration for this blog post title.  To fully grasp the power (sweet desperation and awesome ridiculousness) of this song, you must have a listen if you haven't before.  The lyrics are just not enough. ☺

Third,

The Love Sculpture.  I knew I'd seen it somewhere (in a photo) and that somewhere was not San Antonio.  Philly and New York for sure, I thought.  The artwork by Robert Indiana was first created as a print image (on holiday cards and stamps) in 1964 and first made into a sculpture in 1970.  And apparently there are eighteen versions of Love in the United States, with the original sculpture in Indiana.  Thank you for fulfilling my curiosity, Wikipedia. And thank you for reading/skimming/browsing/glancing.

♥ Much love!

Mostly blue with a pop of red and a block of black

haphazard

Outfit Details

Cynthia Rowley tank // Forever 21 jacket // Kut by the Cloth shorts

Steve Madden red belt // Report oxfords // Rebecca Minkoff Mac bag

Can I get a source, please?

Love (Sculpture)

List of Love sculptures

The Happy Hatter

pretty and delicious

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Outfit Details

Aryeh dress (Ruche) // Antoniazzi Firenze leather belt (my mom) //Rebecca Minkoff Mac bag

Nine West heels (Ross) // The hat (World Market)

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Saturdays are for bakeries and breweries.  First Bakery Lorraine for some macarons (my new favorite dessert!) and then the Pearl Brewery (where there is no longer a brewery) to wander.  All the while wearing a floppy hat.  Inspired by this story of a hat, I have composed my own "story." 

Before I went to Nigeria last December, I decided I wanted a floppy hat because I would be going from chilly to hot weather (and because I saw an Instagram pic of some girl looking cool in one...).  I had searched the Internets but by the time I really wanted the hat, my departure date was too close.  Whatever I ordered online wouldn't arrive when I needed it (and I didn't need a hat so badly to justify expedited shipping; I didn't need a hat at all).  So I went to a few stores: Target, Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and a peep at Walmart.

Do you know how hard it is to find what is basically a summer hat in the middle of winter?  I felt a little silly trying to find one until I stepped into World Market and saw this lone hat.  There was no price tag on it. 

Because it was way out of season, the sales clerk had to scroll through their inventory on the computer to find an item with a similar description and then find the price.  This took twenty minutes and I waited patiently.  Although I did say to myself "If this hat costs more than $15..."

The price was $10.  I happily paid and excitedly packed the hat in my suitcase for Nigeria.  And then it never left the suitcase for those three weeks abroad.  I never wore the hat that I went through all that trouble to find and buy.  Until this past Saturday when I tried to see if it could fit over my hair.  It did and all of a sudden my flat sandals had to go (according to my sister) in favor of heels.  And here I am, the happy hatter.

**taken by my lovely sister