Currently Dating: Embroidery

Film captured by the talented Jessica of J.Lee Photos at Griffith Observatory in LA

Embroidered pieces have a way of either slaying me with happy twirling thoughts or making me want to sit in a rocking chair and knit. Since I'm a twirler, I look for styles that have a playful simplicity. This little number is from Zara. Simple, easy to wear and affordable. I bought it because I loved it. If there's a trend that you want to try, I say slip on a style that takes on the trend in a "I can wear it effortlessly kind of way."  If you find yourself needing a "how to guide" on rocking it, just skip it babes! Ain't nobody got time for that :) 

Trends are a great way to incorporate a little extra fun and play into your wardrobe. It shouldn't be stressful after-all it's just clothes. As I've said before, date the trends and marry the classics. Have a great Thursday my peeps and I'll see you next week. MUAH!

The "it" dress for any occasion

dress: Cynthia Vincent      shoes: Joie      MOOD: breezy ;)

If your Summer is anything like mine, it's busy and chock-full of events. That means finding styles that can do double duty so that you're ready to tackle any event, stylishly. I'm an auto yes girl when it comes to wedding and I drag my hubby ( who has to wave goodbye to his socks and sandals for a few hours) to every one. I love to get dolled up, celebrate love and yes, the dancing y'all!  So RSVP for that wedding, bridal shower, gala, dinner gathering or fabulous date night because I've got you covered. 

When it comes to finding that "go to" dress I look for a styles that I can wear with at least three types of shoes. A pump or strappy heel, a wedge or flats. If I find a style that can be worn easily with these shoe types then I know I can rock this dress to many events. I look at fabric and zoom in on classic styles that has a little something extra. 

For this dress, it was this amazing tribal print anchored by a simple fitted shape and a very lady like side slit ( so fun).  When it comes to fabric, opt for dressier. I look for silks, lace, eyelet or even a drapey cotton or crepe fabric. It's much easier to dress something down than dress it up, especially a dress. I snagged this beauty a few years ago ( see what I mean about the classics, they stick around) at Fancy Pants in downtown Boise. There's certainly some new loves so I would recommend a visit. If you're looking online I loved this style and this. Both styles are playful but has a great classic look. The lightweight chambray dress, ummmm LOVE! I would say that you are ready for those photo-ops and if I see you at a mutual event come say hi to your girl :)

SIDE NOTE: If you're in LA, visiting Abbot Kinney is a must. The stores, people and vibe is beyond cool. I had a blast hanging with my girl Jessica Rieke of J.Lee Photos. All the great shots are taken by this talented babe. If you are a ice cream lover, get ready to fall head over heels in love. You must and I mean must visit Salt and Straw. It's taste bud bliss!! 

Swimsuits, Coverups + Margaritas

Hello Sunshine :)

The heat is on and we know what that means. We've got to get our shit together and slip on that bathing suit because ummm it's 95 degrees out and Mama's got to cool down. I know. Bathing suits can be a pain but I have some great tips to finding the styles that says  BRING IT! I've got your back!!

Stop hating on your goodness

Yes! I want you to embrace all the yummy curves and  non-curves ( I'm built like a 12 year old boy). I  know that we all have things we "ugh" about when it comes to our body but you know what, at the end of the day ( this is so my Mama talking right now) none of that matters. Mama is right! You embrace and love what you see and it will be the best thing you can add on with your swimsuit. A whole whopping dose of C O N F I D E N C E because girl, it looks good on you. 

Embrace the goods you've got

If you've got great arms, show them off with a halter style, like this. If you love your legs choose a style with a higher side cut bikini, like this. Loving on the "girls" aka your breast, rock a demi style bikini top, like this. If you've got some extra on the backside ( I hate you and can I have some :)  seriously, your girl got very, very little.  I recommend a style that actually shows a bit more cheek. I know, you think you want full coverage but you don't. Check out this style.  By the way, Aerie has launched a real women, no editing editorial to feature their swimsuits (love that). 

Lace cover, For Love and Lemons; Bikini, JCrew

Style it up

A coverup is a great way to add a bit of style and make you feel more pulled together when rocking a swimsuit. To avoid the frump factor I look for styles that drape well and that aren't necessarily a coverup. The For Love and Lemons ( shown above) style was perfect worn as a light jacket and I knew it would be airy enough as a swimsuit coverup. I must say I love the styles at JCrew like this one, which can be worn as a tunic or with shorts. I'm also a fan of an oversized linen shirt and a short slip dress. 

Enjoy it

You're wearing a bathing suit because I'm guessing some sort of luxuriating ( it's a word) is going to happen. That means, you're heading on vacation, hanging by a pool or taking it easy in your backyard. I don't know about you but those are all awesome situations to be in.  Enjoy hanging with your peeps, stop fussing about your bikini and use the tips I've provided to help you navigate this swimwear arena. I know, I'm bossy :)

 

Tunic top, JCrew

So I promised you a Margarita and here it is!! Are you ready for the best margarita you've ever had?? It's called the beet margarita!! My friend Sam told me about it and I'm officially hooked. Let's just say it's Summer in a glass, with a extra side of happy. Insert Mariachi music or some Beyonce here ( whatever strikes your dancing fancy).

Photo credit and recipe: Casey Barber

I found a great recipe on Casey Barber's Good Food Stories blog and it is pure delight. Click  here for the details and ENJOY. 

Side note: iIf you're not in the mood to deliver your own margarita bliss, meet me at Juniper, where I've had the pleasure of enjoying said drink.  Let's cheers to the weekend y'all :)

Big hair and breezy wear

My hair is curly, kinky and wild. It's delicate and strong. It reminds me that there is nothing more freeing than allowing what is most natural about myself to simply BE. I stopped straightening my hair because I had enough. Ugh, it seems so cliche but the real talk is that I got to this point where I noticed that I no longer felt the need to edit who I was, which included my mane. It wasn't an overnight or lightbulb moment but this progression of experiences that made me acknowledge that  "yah, I'm ok with me AS IS". For the most part, straightening my hair was an extension of figuring out the uncertainties about myself. I didn't really know what I wanted and it took getting through my f-ups, learning, listening, challenging myself and meeting good eggs along the way, you know...LIFE. The process is a journey. 

My hubby always asked me why I straightened my hair and would beg me to leave it natural. I thought he was crazy! Although I loved his support and encouragement, no one can make you act on those moments. They can influence but you're the one that's paving your path. As a black woman, the struggle to accept what is naturally you, especially when it comes to our hair is such a difficult journey. It's not the norm. I rarely see anyone with hair like mine but I also live in Boise, Idaho. I love that I was able to fuel who I am in a state where, let's be real, there's not many people of color.  What I experienced from those around me, strangers and friends, was this fantastic celebration of my natural hair. It really stunned me. People would come up to me and tell me how much they loved my curly hair. In my head, I was saying "really, you think my natural hair is pretty....who knew." It was as if I was able to experience acceptance of "me" moreso than I ever accepted myself.  

The more I dived into learning about my curly hair and how to care for it, I saw this common thread amongst so many women of different races and backgrounds who had a familiar story to share about untaming their mane. We hear the mantra that "you're free to be you" but we don't see it. So it takes these individual movements where each of us declare who we are, naturally. That's not to say I will never straighten my hair, I will when I feel like mixing it up. However, the decision is driven by me and not some cultural/ social demand. The relief of no longer having to protest why your "imperfections" are pretty darn perfect for you. It's an exclamation that normal is diverse, unique and feeds tolerance, its soul food. 

Laura, what about your outfit girllll?!! I know I got a bit deep on y'all so here are the yummy details. I love these breezy tops but they can look a little frumpy ( no thank you frump McGee). I look for styles that either gathers at the waist like this one or has an open neckline like this style (so cuteee, right!) I paired it with these boyfriend denim shorts that are a little more fitted as not to compete with the looser fit of the top. 

Top: Rebecca Taylor, Shorts: Rag and Bone ( Fancy Pants)    Shoes: Madewell

"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well"  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I want to hear from you!! What's your hair story? Share, comment and click on the little heart below (it's adorable). We can tackle this journey together :)

Easy ways to rock neutrals

Wearing neutrals just makes me swoon about summer. It's light, fresh and modern. Summer will be here in about 6 weeks peeps and I'm counting :)  Wearing all neutrals is about texture and picking the right shade. I'm a fan of whites, ivory and grays. Since the weather will be slipping on its fancy 70 degrees and up temperature our way,  here are a few of my "how to" tips to rocking all neutrals and keeping your cool. 

Texture is your friend. I'm wearing these  ivory denim shorts from JCrew and paired it with this darling eyelet  top from Banana Republic. The eyelet gives this color palette some texture and makes the outfit more playful. By the way guys, this top was on super sale in the store so go snag yourself one now :) The ivory top was a bit darker than the shorts but this is why having texture is so great. The shades do not have to be an exact match, which makes pairing easy. Mama likes that!

the sun shining through :)

Accessorize to add a little something something ;) I paired this grey bag from JCrew ( so cute right) and my little coral puffball name Javi  ;)  to give the all ivory look some anchor. When it comes to styling myself and my clients, looking great should be a simple and easy process. Neutrals allows this ease because you don't have to worry about matching or coordinating since you're using the same color palette. They all play nicely with each other. 

If you want to wear all white, choose white denim and a silk-like top or knitted top with a smooth cotton bottoms. If you want an all grey look, wear light grey on top, dark on the bottom with a fun printed bag. Are you guys picking up what I'm throwing down?! Wonderful!! Now go and get your style on. MUAH!! :)

Lessons learned from Mama #MamaKnowsBest

So let me explain my Mom to you just a bit. She is 5’4” maybe, on a good day, full of energy and doesn’t mind telling me what she thinks (with or without request). She’s my favorite person and she drives me crazy. It’s the most wonderful and maddening love ever :)

Growing up, my Mom was a bit of a hard ass ( yah I said it, sorry Mom but you were). Ugh, those days where I just wanted to scream at you and slam the door because I thought you were trying to make my life a living hell. I realized, eventually, how thankful I was for those moments. I’m so happy that you demanded more from me than I did myself. 

Mama lesson learned: TRY HARDER

When I did poorly on something my Mom would ask me in her very thick Jamaican accent “How hard did you try? Did you prepare yourself so that you could produce the best result? If you tell me yes, then I know you tried.”
Yep…I just wanted to yell at her because she was right (grrr)  and my poor performance was usually the result of being ill-prepared or really not being interested whatsoever. 
So now,  I work towards trying to be better on whatever job I take on. I learn something new after every project and I ask myself, what can I do better for my clients. I’ve noticed that there is always something to improve upon. Better isn’t about perfection, to me it's about allowing meaningful progress. Experience is a good teacher. 

Mama lesson learned: BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER

I actually learned this from a few of my "Mamas" - amazing women whom I love and admire a great deal. I'm grateful to have each of them in my world. They've provided amazing support,  love and pushed me to see my value in so many ways. 

You know that little voice that creeps up inside your head that says "babe, you've got this" or that moment ( visualize hands on your hips, legs apart, superwoman stance, cape blowing in the wind) YES THAT! Mama wants you to  hold on to that with all your might and believe in yourself like the champion you are. Yes, I have my moments when I'm dropping f-bombs (privately) because something is not vibing the way it should ( it's life). I take a breather and then work to see how I can kick the problems booty. Having my own back, keeps me accountable for my actions and inactions. It also let's me acknowledge that things will be okay because I've got my back.

Mama lesson learned: LOVE BIG OR GO HOME

When I visit my Mom, she has a menu laid out of all my favorite meals because as she puts it "baby, they don't feed you enough food in Idaho"...such a  Mom thing right!!! That's the best kind of loving, Mom's home cooking ( insert happy dance here and here). 

What does all this home cooking chatter mean?? If you're going to love, love fully. My Mom shows me her love in the biggest and best way she knows how by taking care of what fills me body and soul. I had to learn this love big thang the hard way a few times because loves great but sometimes it hurts bad, real bad.  So why love big Laura?? Well my awesome peeps, it made me appreciate how awesome it feels when this full love came my way. Not just from my hubby but from the people who care about me in the deepest way. It filters all the other mess out. It's amazing. Having that in my world allowed me to be grateful and appreciate what love means in the realest way. Loving big for me is a all-in commitment not naivety, understanding and being your loves sound board. It's hard, easy and everything in between but so worth it. 

I always thought I would get to this point where I would have this "stuff" figured out or least most of it. Nope, not the case for me. I'm learning all along the way with more clarity as I go. Mama does know best and she's trying to share it in her own way. Some of those lessons go over a bit smoother than others, some I learned in my own way. 

To quote my wonderful stepdaughter Maddie..."Moms are pretty awesome." I couldn't agree more :)

This girl + stripes

happy as a clam with J.Lee Photos in Vegas

What is it about stripes that makes us covet it so much?! My friends and I see it, immediately want it, must have....ahhh NEED IT!! I love that it embodies both a classic and modern look. I can wear a stripe tee with skinny jeans and ta da...cute outfit!! It doesn't get any easier than that. 

I'm a fan of the JCrew perfect tee styles. I paired it with this overall denim skirt from Madewell which gave this classic tee some edge. I find a small or medium stripe style is best especially in the tee style. If you spot a stripe dress that is loved,  I would go for a medium stripe, like this style because it creates a more flattering visual. Everyone can wear stripes,  it's really about paying attention to the size of the stripes. 

Top: JCrew perfect tee

Its been a busy few weeks and I have some amazing collaborations that I'll be sharing with you all!!! I'm so thrilled to have you on this journey with me. Thank you for having my back and showing this poofy hair girl a whole lot of LOVE!!!

Summer staple: denim shorts

happy place

Warm weather does something amazing to my soul!! It's the Jamaican in me. The sun on my skin and the sight of everything illuminated makes me feel charged! My trip to LA was immersed with so many great experiences, a big one was the fantastic sunshine.

 My friend Jessica of J.Lee Photos took some beautiful photos and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to places to dine and immerse in laidback LA life. This darling spot is called The Alcove and as a foodie, I was giddy with joy. 

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This place was surrounded by flowers and rich green succulents. The simple homey vibe makes you want to hang out  for most of your morning. 

Shorts: Current Elliot      T-shirt: JCrew       Shoes: Madewell

Most of you know that I'm a strong advocate for comfort and style. These Current Elliott denim shorts are a soft denim and I got them a few years back at Fancy Pants in downtown Boise. They have some great new styles that are loved. The fit and length doesn't leave me feeling as if I need to yank them down every 5 minutes ( you know what I mean!!).  My guide to denim shorts is to choose one  with a softer denim, sits on your hip and is slightly loose, like these.  It allows for a shorter length without feeling like you have booty shorts on ;) If you want a bit longer length,  I love these.  They can be rolled up or down to your liking. You can find find similar styles at Piece Unique in downtown Boise.

This grapefruit was picked from Jessica's front yard....LOVE!!!

My Summer wear is light, simple and all about keeping my cool. What are your must have Summer staples??  It's going to be a good one!! :)

What to wear in the Mojave Desert....

Free as a bird 

Along this journey call life....I've learned to embrace all the moments I'm given and always say YES when planning anything with Jessica Rieke ;)  I had the amazing opportunity to work with my wonderful friend Jessica of J.Lee Photos. Our trip led us to Vegas where I got to experience the wonderful mania of being a photographer. We were joined by Alicia from Mink Photography, who is by far one of the coolest peeps I've had the pleasure of meeting. She captured some amazing behind the scenes images from a few of the photoshoots and I'm so excited  to share this with you. Our trip ended in LA, where I was inspired, connected and got to revel in all things fashion, whilst Jessica worked her camera magic. Our goal was to get 3 to 4 amazing photoshoots and we out did ourselves with 10!! WHAT?!! I know...I'll be sharing this fantastic journey with you all in the coming weeks. 

As I navigate this life, I appreciate more and more the importance of building a strong foundation of friends. Every person that comes into my world brings something of value and helps to build the person I am. My friends push me to try harder, demand that I grow and love me flaws and all. It makes the hard times, manageable and the good times, sweeter. Jessica introduced me to her creative community that fuels each other by supporting and building a network. It was motivating to see "community over competition" in action. 

free as a bird.....captured by Mink Photography 

The Mojave dessert and the Joshua trees does something to my soul. It envelopes a sense of calm and freedom for me. One of the best parts of working with Jessica was the manner in which she allowed the elements of our surrounding to just be. She captured moments that were organic and beautiful. 

 I wanted to wear an outfit that softly complimented this raw environment. It felt light, easy and flowed. This beautiful top was given to me by stepdaughters mom, Britney. We have a great relationship, built by effort, trust and the big picture of love and family. She found a box of styles by designer Valerie Porr while cleaning out her Grandmas garage. The designer made beautiful creations and helped to pave the groundwork for the Soho fashion scene. She created custom styles for celebrities including Jimi Hendrix. Pretty COOL!  She's since left the fashion world and has made some amazing strides in the treatment and research of BPD, Borderline Personality Disorder. In 1994, she founded TARA APD a Treatment and Research Advancements National Association for Personality Disorder. I found her story to be fascinating and moving. You can read more here. The pieces are beautiful, airy and has a whimsical quality to them. To tame that sweetness I paired this top with these distressed black denim shorts from Forever 21. The fit, loved; the wash, edgy and the price crazy good.  

This foldover clutch by GAIA is my new favorite love; shoes, Joie 

As a fashion stylist and blogger,  I believe in creating a platform where fashion is accessible, intimidation free and serves a greater good. I find myself being drawn to brands that believe in the bigger picture of fashion for good. This beautiful fold-over clutch is from GAIA. Every GAIA product is handmade by resettled refugee women in Dallas, Texas. The result are beautiful styles and a relentless commitment to employ, encourage and guide these amazing women so that they can prosper and flourish. It's invaluable the moment you realize how powerful a purchase can be.

The coolest part about all of this learning and doing is the sharing. Thank you for allowing me to do that. Keep your seat belt buckled because the goodness gets revved up from here #DOMORE #BETTERHUMAN