The Style is in the Genes

My Aunt went to be with the Lord this past Saturday and I was able to get some pictures that I had not seen before. In the picture is My Aunt C on the left, my Grandmother in the middle and my mother, G on the right.  I miss them dearly but I know they are in my heart so they are always with me.
Each lady in their own individual way made sure they looked chic and I see that the style is in the genes.  My grandmother raised five children and she worked hard for her money and she looked so good.  My mother took the time to make sure she was well put together and  that I also looked a certain way. My Aunt C always wanted to look her best and be the best. This picture is beautiful to me.

Friend Friday

This weeks Friend Friday post is on “Jealousy”  which is a very interesting topic this week. If you want to be a part of Friend Friday please check out www.modlychic.com.
Enjoy your weekend!

1. How do you define jealousy? Wanting what someone else has because you think that they are better than you or have more than you do.

2. When do you find you experience a bit of blogger jealousy? It takes a while before you get a following of people reading your blog on a regular basis so it’s inspiring when I see fellow bloggers with thousands of fans. I am not new but I haven’t been blogging long and often I wonder am I missing something or should I be doing something better to reach more people.

3. What types of blogs or which bloggers are you a little jealous of.
Bloggers who are able to post everyday and sometimes 3 and four times a day.  I work a full time job and I really have to schedule my time to blog.  I really love blogging but I have to make an effort to schedule my time. If I could blog to make a good income from it that would be wonderful, I know every blogger would like that bonus.  With my blog I want to make sure I am real and honest to the readers so I am blogging because I enjoy doing it.

4. From the time we’re little we are taught that jealousy is a bad thing, but it can also inspire us to be better. Have you changed the way you do things, the content of your blog, etc… as a result of what someone else is doing? I haven’t changed who I am because I have seen a blog or blogs. I really like to read different blogs because I see new ideas or different ways of doing things.  I have to remain who I am and feel good about that.  As I said I have gotten good ideas on how to make my blog better but it wasn’t merely because of jealousy.

5. What is the best way to overcome jealousy in the blogosphere and in life? I know this is easier said than done and this may sound like violins are playing in the background.
Be happy for people and realize that if someone can do something awesome and inspiring don’t get down on yourself because you can do something inspiring also. We can’t be haters we need to strive to be joyful when we see people around us achieve their goals and dreams. I have to check myself if I start to feel jealousy because there is no need to envy because God is know respecter of persons. We all are winners.

Friend Friday

I have been a little late with this Friend Friday post. I found out Tuesday that  my Aunt is very ill  in the hospital and I have been trying to be there for my cousin the best way I can.
Exercise is one of my favorite topics so I had to give my input. Katy from modlychic.com is focusing on fitness this week.

Me in my sketcher shape ups
I do a lot of up in the air movements so to protect my joints I wear my knee pads if I am doing  workouts with plyometrics or kickboxing.
  1. When you hear the word fitness what do you think?  I think being in good health, being able to hike mountains when I am in my 70s and 80s. Being in good  shape means I can fit in my clothes better. One key point is that exercise and a healthy diet work hand in hand.  Who wants to work out for 45 minutes and then eat fried chicken and a milkshake afterward?  It may sound tasty but what was the point of exercising if you ruin it with bad meal choices.
  2. Do you have a workout routine? What’s your favorite way to workout? I do not go to the gym  because I love the freedom to work out whenever I want. My husband are working out with P90x with Tony Horton and it’s tough but I feel so good after I cool down.  I also love to dance so Latin Dancing is fun as well as my Bollywood videos with Hemalayaa, yoga or pilates. I switch up and walk away the pounds with Leslie Sansone and get my cardio on with the The Firm.  I constantly work different routines so I may work out with Kettlenetics one day and then I may rock out on the wii the next. http://www.youtube.com/v/8UeEuF9bHlU&hl=en_US&fs=1
  3. To you, what is the purpose of exercise? No#1 reason is my health.  I pray to my Father in heaven that my husband and my family and friends enjoy a long happy healthy long life In Jesus Name.
  4. Do you think it is possible to be feminine and still workout? Most definitely yes I work out 4 to 5 times a week and I am a girly girl who like my purses and dresses and makeup.  To me working out accentuates the way I look so it all works together.
  5. What do you think about the people who are workout obsessed? (You know those women and the gym who spend 4 hours working out and have more muscles than some men.) I think that’s fine as long as they are doing it the healthy way.  Taking no pills or steroid shots to help build more muscle.  Also, not overworking muscles to the point of fatigue wear it stresses the muscles and joints. I personal do not want to look overly muscular, I strive to increase my tone and definition but I want to keep my curves.

Friend Friday Mix and Match

1. What’s your most versatile piece of clothing? How do you wear it?
One of my most versatile pieces is a sun dress that I bought at Macy’s at an awesome price at the end of last summer.
In the two photos below I have the dress on with a green shirt and in the other photo I have the dress on with a black shirt. Also, I have a pair of gray greta heels in one photo and brown shoes on in the second. So cool!

2. What one piece should every woman own? A nice pair of black dress trousers. A must have because those black pants can be an absolute work horse in your wardrobe, from casual to dressy.

3. What Summer trends do you love because of their versatility?
I love the new version of the maxi dress.  It’s maxi with class.  I love the girly and just down right pretty dress that I have on in this photo.  I get so many compliments every time I wear it.

4. What’s the most creative combination you’ve put together from your closet?

In the photos above I had to coordinate shoes and belts so that they don’t look matchy but flow in a groovy way. I love a challenge and to offset colors is something that makes my outfits unique and different.

5. If you had the guts what items would you pair and then wear out in public?
I’m pretty gutsy but I would like to wear even more dresses with bold patterns and prints.
For example, these dresses with prints from London Times.  Love it!
Here’s the link:http:
//www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Tiana-B.-Womens-Short-sleeve-Jersey-Mod-Dress/4667937/product.html

Love the print London Times
Love the design in this dress from London Times

Friend Friday

1. Do you think personal fashion blogging is inherently narcissistic?

Some people can come across as being all about themselves but we have to be careful not to judge. A lot of times women perceive narcissism and really it is confidence that the person (blogger) exudes. Fashion blogs, for the most part, I think blogging is about getting to connect with people that have a common interest or showing someone a technique or method that may help them. It’s so much information out there in cyberspace and you have to really read the information and decide if it suits you, if it doesn’t then no harm done because there will be someone else out there who may gain something from that same information you’ve read.

2. I think we can all agree, that certainly some blogs are personal odes to the blogger. In your opinion what makes a blog narcissistic. Narcissism in Webster’s dictionary means love of oneself
narcissistic

a. I have seen some blogs that consistently talk about themselves and if you don’t dress or do a technique like them then it’s not right.
b. Blogs that have so many advertisements on them that it’s hard to find the latest entry. I personal want to read your blog not what advertisement is endorsing you. I have no problem with advertisement endorsing but I hope that the blogger truly loves the product or has actually used it.
c. Blogs that don’t respond to questions from comments due to having so many subscribers that they don’t have the time so there’s all these questions out there with no response. Hopefully a video or post goes up with answers to those questions.
d. Quoting a high price tag or you’re not in because you don’t have this it whatever it is bag at the moment. If you want to pay a lot money for purses, clothing, etc. that’s great. But believe me you can look like you have paid a lot for you clothes if you’re on a budget you just have to shop right and if you sew the sky is the limit.

3. Would you classify your blog as narcissistic? Why?

No, because before I started blogging I didn’t like taking pictures of myself and to some level it’s still not the easiest thing for me. Also, sharing my passion and things I like to do; whether it is hair techniques, clothes, eating healthy or whatever; was not something I thought anyone would want to read about. Blogging has connected me with some awesome people who know a lot more than I do in certain areas and has helped me become more knowledgeable. I use to think how will what I say help someone because there is so much of the same information out there about any given topic. Well that information isn’t coming from me so why not blog and show how I wear certain styles or shoot videos on how I do a flexi-rod hair style, how I make cranberry bread, or use blogging as a way to give kudos/props to bloggers who have helped me in different areas.

4. How can we combat the idea that because we share personal style thoughts/pictures we are automatically full of ourselves?

I think blogging has helped me overcome some of that baggage of low self-esteem and not thinking that I look a certain way because I feel someone else looks better than I do. We are all beautiful and we each have a gift to share whether it’s a quick tip to a friend on how to wear a scarf to uploading a video on my personal style. I think if we are out to genuinely help people then we need to make the effort to say that and it’s not only for personal gain. It makes me feel good when I get a response that someone will try a certain style because I talked about it in a post or video.

5. How do you explain what you do to others in a way that doesn’t come across as narcissistic?

In my videos I almost always say this is my style I am not trying to tell you to be like me. I always end my videos with Jesus Saves because when it comes down to it to me it’s all about putting him first.
I am not trying to appear aloof but I want to project confidence and that I really like to talk about fashion, accessorizing, hair and what great deals I bought. Sometimes I will do videos on items that I have had for years to show that you don’t always have to run out and buy something you can work with what you have at home and maybe all you need to purchase is a pair of earrings to make the look completely new.

God did not make us to be clones of each other we are all individuals. We are not carbon copies.