Coffee in the Morning

Regular early mornings this summer have me rebuilding an addiction to coffee (or liquid brown sugar-- I like it real sweet). Despite my reliance on coffee's caffeine, I think that coffee is fake. She and her caffeine qualities only mess with your mind, leading you to believe you're more awake or more energized. It's all psychological. Plus that coating/mask she leaves in your mouth to let the whole world know what you've just consumed is so rude of her. Do not abandon breath mints or gum in times of coffee consumption. Please.

However there is a coffee I do believe in. Miguel the R&B singer made it and he makes it well. Have a listen.

Good morning and happy Wednesday!

25 before 25

Welcome to 2015! 

That five looks so authoritative, like this year is guaranteed to be strong and firm for everyone.  A good sign of what's to come appeared to my family on the first of this year.  My dad traveled this holiday season so the mother-daughter trio went to New Year's Day brunch at the Blue Mesa Grill. Oooh, the food was delicious! While my momma and I were focused on our waffles and mimosas, a woman approached our table.  She said that she wanted to cover our brunch, in a small act of kindness, a pay it forward gesture.  We were so surprised and overwhelmed by her generosity. Brunch buffet for $20 per person is no small thing!  My family has experienced some not so pleasant moments, especially in the last quarter of this year. So to ring in the new year with such a beautifully positive and unexpected gesture speaks volumes. That five looks fierce for a reason! 2015 will be especially special.

A month ago, in the midst of all the 2014 round-ups, reflections and reviews posted and presented online and on television, I did not purposefully think about my 2014.  Outside of sweeping generalizations and transitions, 2014 was just cool. Nothing traumatic or devastating and nothing life-changing or amazing, but still blessed and with gratitude.  

Long ago, I had traded New Years resolutions for new year themes.  I kept the same theme for years: gorgeousness.  To me, to be gorgeous emcompasses everything: inner beauty, confidence, health and fitness. expressing myself in words, voice and style. To be gorgeous means to be strong and smart and fearless, even when fearful. I thought a theme was clever, but nothing was specific or explicit.  I don't even think I bothered with resolutions or themes in the last two years. Resolutions come as they come, whether that be at the beginning of a new job, a new semester of school, the summer or Black Friday.  It shouldn't matter when they happen.  If a change is gonna come and you want it to, it very well can come about.

Now, instead of a list of resolutions or a new theme (although gorgeousness will never go out of style), I've decided to create a 25 before 25 bucket list.  A few months after I turned 24, I read a Klassy Kinks post about the founder, Ijeoma's 24th birthday.  She solicited her readers for ideas for her 25 before 25.  And I thought "I should do that.  Why didn't I think to do that?"  But I let time pass by, unable to think of 25 things I would and could do before next August. And now I've cheated myself out of four months.  I've got less than 8 months to inspire change and challenge my comfort zone before I reach that mid-twenties mark.  I still can't believe I'm this old.  Sometimes I give the wrong age when asked and then immediately realize "Oops, I'm actually not 23 anymore." 

Let's get to work

Well, here they are.  Maybe I should have counted one of the 25 things as "Think of 25 things," because it has essentially taken me four months to come up with this bucket list (and most in the last 30 minutes).  Tsk tsk.  

1. Learn enough conversational Igbo to say something more than odimma and kedu (I'm serious and I've already got the iPhone apps to show a lil' somethin' lol) 
2. Treat my parents to a nice dinner (somehow I've never done this)
3. Run a 5k
4. Get the flu vaccine
5. Sing to an audience (karaoke counts)
6. Learn how to change a tire 
7. Learn how to cornrow my hair (or flat-twist in any direction)
8. Find and reach out to a professional mentor (eek!)
9. Fortify bridges (as opposed to burning them): connect to colleagues regularly
10. Be okay speaking in front of people (Toastmasters maybe?)
11. Read at least five novels for leisure
12. Relearn how to cook stew
13. Get stronger (i.e. perform more than 5 push-ups non-stop)
14. Visit half of the museums in Houston's Museum District (there are A LOT)
15. Post on this blog at least twice per month
16. Perfect one makeup look
17. Address my edges (i.e. what exactly am I supposed to do with this thick castor oil?)
18. Learn how to cook five new meals
19. Learn how to swim 
20. Become certified in first aid and CPR
21. Attend a conference or convention (for public health or blogging or faith or cultural celebration or whatever)
22. Figure out and write out a specific career goal (what, when, where, how and know the why)
23. Finish transcribing my grandfather's unfinished memoirs
24. Save $1000 (towards a camera and accessories or a trip)
25. Make a new friend, keep a new friend

Whew, done!  Cheers to the things on this bucket list!  I'll update along the way and I'll do my best to complete them all.  But since time is short and 2015 continues past my birthday, I think a little leeway would be acceptable.  Don't you?  

Happy New Year to all you beautiful people!

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

Not the Usual

Aaah!!  I've unintentionally taken a break from the blog, mostly because I couldn't find the words to type (still having trouble...).  But I've got ideas on the backburner and it's SUMMERTIME!  The heat is on and I really should think twice before wearing any sort of long sleeve in Texas this time of year.  

I may have thought twice or thrice, though, when choosing this outfit.  And then still decided to wear this long-sleeved denim shirt.  Mschew.  I wanted to try something different than usual for a weekend look: no jeans and no flats.  I believe those were the unofficial rules.  And I struggled, creating a closet tornado, before settling on this.

So in the words of Nordstrom Rack, I was the "style hunter" who found these wedges irresistible and this textured skirt a cool piece of game.  These shoes are well-loved, smothered even.  Which is weird, because they're just shoes.  Except...  

The skirt is still unseasoned to me.  Meaning, it could be better paired with something else.  I could get on this crop top train...but I don't know.  Any ideas? 

um....

Bye Felicia*

Outfit Details
H&M white tank

Forever 21 denim shirt

Topshop tube skirt 

BCBGeneration Tempest wedges 

Steve Madden crossbody bag
JewelMint Clara bracelet

Happy Hump Day

*I've actually never seen any of the Friday movies...but I've heard some things

Fit for Last Week

Doesn't this have that senior portrait vibe?
Too bad I've graduated twice without the real thing.

This morning I woke up feeling ambitious and decided to make scrambled eggs for breakfast.  Chopped tomatoes, onions, and half a Habanero chili pepper...  The onion venom violated my eyes and although I was a fork and an arm away from the pepper, it stung my eyes too.  But I was feeling good about these eggs, so I kept going.  I alternated whites and yolks and added thyme, curry powder and salt. Heard a nice sizzle in the skillet, a promising process.

The result was a bland fail. Even adding Sriracha sauce could not save it.  It was eaten anyway, followed by some chocolate (yeah, chocolate in the morning).  I will try again, make no mistake. That's my boring story for today. Maybe something better will happen, something good at my kickboxing class tonight.  Definitely doubt that... kickboxing is not my friend right now.

Oh so I stepped out in this getup last Thursday to visit my neighborhood Academy Sports and Outdoors for some kickboxing gloves.  Then I played with Picasa a little bit.  I'd always wondered how people created that focal point color, everything else black and white effect. And now I know.  Happy Thursday and not-so-happy government shutdown day 10. Whoo! Whew!

Cynthia Rowley t-shirt
F21 chaqueta
F21 skirt
sandals "stolen" from my cousin's closet

Last Sunday Grey

Oh, my face is out of focus? Well....

Dear Potential Readers,

Welcome to my slice of (modest) vanity. Thank you for checking it out.  It's a little embarrassing and/or nerve-wracking to post anything online, but I'm just gonna do it. Our world is already used to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all the other modes of sharing through the web. Part of the inspiration for this blog is the belief that we can all be extraordinary too. Using whatever resources you have (different personalities, styles, and opinions), you can be just as great as all the people you admire. So here it is. My kind of extraordinary. Hope you enjoy it!

Love Always,

Ifeoma Adaora

silk-something top from ThredUp
H&M skirt
 F21 necklace
Steve Madden crossbody purse
wedges "stolen" from my cousin's closet

If Only for Posterity

Dear Future Me,

You were a girl--er, young woman-- whose coming of age themes were to be bold and gorgeous. Bold and beautiful, gorgeous and gracious, et cetera, et cetera.  At twenty-something (ooh, one of those) you are still coming of age and creating yourself.  ♫ One step at a time ♪.  But how are you to know just how you grew to be who you are at whatever the present time?  Well, part of your identity lies in how you express yourself in the most obvious and widely cited arts-- music, design, writing, and fashion. Not the most important things of course, but in the running for the most fun.  

Yeah! (this was you way way back in '09)

In 2012 you started a blog called "Some Kind of Colorful" and it was canceled after a year in favor of "Extraordinary Too." Why? Just because. Or you wanted a new direction, a focus for artistic creativity. And you really wanted to document the development of your personal style. Maybe so your daughters could see just how chic you were then (but you're probably still ♪ rocking the hottest outfits ♫). Oh, and because of photography. You're kind of obsessed with the idea of taking it up as a hobby and thought "Why not practice by joining the other thousands of women and girls blogging about style?"  So here it is.  Hope you enjoy it!

Love Always,

You