RIP Marvelous Maya

28 Wednesday May 2014

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As most of you heard, Maya Angelou passed away today and for this SpoQuo post, here is a compilation of only a few of her quotes and her most famous poem:

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.”

“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

“If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.”

 

STILL I RISE

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

 

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

 

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.

 

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

 

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

 

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

 

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

 

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

 

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

-Maya Angelou

Rest in Peace, Maya Angelou. Thank you for your art and the inspiration you have provided to all of us.

Memorial Day Weekend Wedding

25 Sunday May 2014

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So I have 7 weddings this year and this past weekend attended the second of 2014. It was a beautifully detailed soirée and one of the best I’ve been to. There were two photo booths, cute favors and good food. The liquor was free flowing, the company was awesome – what more can a girl ask for?

The ceremony was outdoors and the guests were given parasols and colorful sunglasses to shield them from the sun. It was a little hot but the skies were clear and we had an awesome view of the Chesapeake Bay. The pastor was funny and sincere. I cried when the vows were read; mostly because the bride was crying too. She looked gorgeously happy.

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I wore a floral number with a yellow jacket for this springtime wedding. The dress is from Asos and the jacket is from Zara. I got a blowout from Drybar and it actually lasted until the end of the night. Since my hair doesn’t hold curl well, the stylist initially gave me tighter curls that would unfurl as the night went on. This wedding was definitely one to remember! Can’t wait for the next 5!

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Inglorious Inglot

23 Friday May 2014

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So I follow this makeup maven, naye0na, on Instagram and she has the most unique and artistic makeup creations. Check her out! Well she uses Inglot eyeliner because it’s super pigmented, waterproof and does well with mono-lidded eyes. I rarely wear liquid eyeliner because my oily crease almost always erases it in a few hours or it’s spreads under my eyes and I look crazy. Even MAC’s waterproof liquid liner doesn’t stay long. However, the Inglot liner lasted longer than the others I previously used. It didn’t smudge everywhere and when I rubbed my eye, didn’t flake off. It’s a keeper!

When I went to Beautylish‘s website, they had a bunch of other Inglot items I wanted to try. I bought a concealer that was lighter than I usually wear because I want to play around with contouring. I also bought the Duraline, which is a product that transforms powdered pigment into a liquid medium. Many people seem to use it to refresh gel liners and I bought it for that purpose. I have a brown gel liner by Bobbi Brown that’s dry and cracked that I need to revive.

And since I wear red lipstick most days, I had to try out their lipstick. I chose #126. And I really like the color. It’s more glossy so I worried it would feather but with a lip liner, should be okay. I ate a huge banh mi (basically like a hoagie) and while some of it came off, I was able to smudge it around so the color was even again. Guess it has something to do with the viscosity of the lipstick. Overall I’m pleased and want to try a matte color next.

Although this is not an Inglot product, I bought a Lucas’ Papaw Ointment which has fermented papaya in it. It also contains petroleum jelly, which I’m weening myself off of. I wear the Vaseline Lip Therapy which I love but realized I’m ingesting a lot of it. Gross. But I love it 😦 Anyway, this ointment is just okay for my lips. I’ve only tried it twice but maybe it will be good for the other uses listed: boils, burns, chafing, cuts, cracked skin, gravel rash, splinters, open wounds, insect bites and nappy rash. I don’t know some those things listed (go figure, it’s an Australian brand) but probably good for an overall ointment to have around.

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Another Anniversary :)

23 Friday May 2014

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A few days ago, my boobear (he hates that pet name) and I celebrated our 7th anniversary. I can’t believe we have been dating that long! Anyways, he came home with these beautiful roses that smelled absolutely divine.

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We both got ready for dinner at Range, which is a Voltaggio restaurant. I heard fantastic things from my girlfriend and the fact that the Kale Ceasar made Washingtonian’s Top 40 dishes made me want to try it. (Definitely working through this list 🙂 )

This is what I wore to dinner and I finally got to break out my cowboy boots! OMG, they are so comfortable! The dress is from For Love and Lemons, my ultimate favorite brand right now. I love everything they make. Too bad I can’t buy them all 😦

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So we get seated and order a bottle of Gewurtztraminer – which the sommelier said was dry but it was so sweet! We ended up ordering a multitude of items that were mostly disappointing. The house cured ham was too salty but the VA ham was awesome. The kale salad was lacked flavor, the bone marrow had a sour tinge to it and the cornbread was dry. The hanging tender was decent but nothing to write home about. The saving grace was the brussels sprouts side dish which the partner didn’t like but I loved. Their earl grey chocolate was great but I feel like you can’t really go wrong with chocolate, can you?

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The restaurant was beautiful and I loved the special touch on the roasted pear almond cake but I wouldn’t come back here again. Family Meal, another part of the Voltaggio empire is really good, so it was disappointing that this “higher-end” restaurant was so lacking. Maybe next year we will try Volt!

Birk Party

20 Tuesday May 2014

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I’ve been wearing Birkenstocks for a couple years. In the 90’s, I fell in love with them at a church retreat when I tried on my cousin’s pair. They were so comfortable!

Fast forward almost 1.5 DECADES ( ! ) and I finally get a pair. My black single straps, the Madrid. You have no idea how much slack I got from my girlfriends for wearing these (and my FitFlops but that’s another story to tell haha). But now I have the last laugh because all the style mavens are sporting Birks and they’re coming back!

A few months ago, I bought some oiled blue leather Gizeh’s and have to break those puppies in. If you’ve never owned a pair, they may feel uncomfortable at first. But they are wondrous for your feet after they soften up and mold to your feet. And this girl, right here, is about comfort AND chicness. Plus, they’re German. Love anything German engineered and crafted.

The newest to the collection are my silver and white Arizonas. These are what typically come to mind when people think of Birks but how cute are they? They also come in gold, which I’m tempted to get. I plan to wear them with a summer dress and a jean jacket. Or my newly acquired boyfriend jeans from Zara.

Wish I could wear them to work!

Style Mash-Up Months 1 thru 4 2014

19 Monday May 2014

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As an absentee blogger for the first third of the year, I have a lot of outfits I haven’t posted. These were worn for going out, bridal showers and work. So here we go!

March Outfit

I wore most of this to a friend’s 30th birthday celebration at Marvin’s in DC. I ended up with another coat since it was more casual. I bought the chartreuse blouse from Forever 21, the high-waisted leggings are from Zara, the ombre faux fur jacket is from Marciano and the necklace, I bought at Mac’s Indian Jewelry in Tucson, AZ.

Suz Wedding Shower

Here I am with a few of my beautiful girlfriends for my friend Susie’s wedding shower. I am wearing pants from Uniqlo (similiar found here), a white blazer, leopard print vans, a black tank and an Hermes Scarf.

Arboretum

That Bonsai tree that is almost 400 years old! The BF and I went to the DC Arboretum to view the Bonsai collection and look at the old Capital columns. I am wearing a leopard print cardigan from H&M, a color block cami from Ann Taylor (similar here), Ray Ban folding Wayfarers, House of Harlow necklace (similar here) and a Cambridge satchel.

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Could you tell I was getting annoyed with the BF as he was snapping away? LOL

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A few weeks ago, I attended another bridal shower in my black jumper that I bought thinking I could wear for play and work. However, I drink a lot of water at work and it’s a pain to get in and out of a jumpsuit. Looks like Asos no longer has this jumper but you can find a similar one here. I decided to be comfy in d’orsay flats and spice up the outfit with a LuvAJ x Stone Cold Fox belt. I love their entire belt collection and am tempted to buy them all!

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Of course, I will need to add a Thursday bathroom selfie picture / work outfit. I found this crochet t-shirt at H&M and fell in love with it. I paired it with a skirt I got on sale from Ann Taylor. Can’t wait to wear the top with jeans and also under one of my suits. So versatile!

Hope you enjoyed the looks! Ciao!

Meet Me in St. Louis

16 Friday May 2014

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So with my new job, I had to travel to the ‘burbs of St. Louis for a few days. And although I went a few years ago for another company, I made the mistake of not renting a car. So I did not have a way to get into St. Louis and enjoy its many offerings. On this trip, I STILL didn’t really get to explore St. Louis as I would have liked. But I did get to visit the famous Gateway Arch since I had a few hours before my flight. I had NO IDEA that you can actually go inside the arch and view the city of St. Louis from the top. My mind was blown.

On a side note, as I was leaving for St. Louis from Dulles Airport, I noticed that the road surrounding Dulles is named after the same architect, Eero Saarinen, that designed the Arch, as well as the airport terminal itself. Guess it was meant to be. It’s hard to imagine what feat and genius it takes to accomplish such beautiful structures.

Back to the Arch – so as I am walking to the Arch, I see it from the side and it looks like an obelisk, much like the Washington Monument, which I pass by all the time.

Arch-Obelisk

As I move closer to the structure, it opens up in front of my very eyes. 😉

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Under the Arch, they have some shops and the ticket counter. One of my colleagues informed me that they were planning to expand this area to include restaurants and more shopping. After the the ticket was bought, I got into the pod below:

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It was about 5-6 feet across. There are five seats and you’re definitely friendly with the people shoved in there with you. As you go up in this pod tram, it starts mechanically adjusting to the curve of the track and it’s really freaky at times but also cool. Haha. Here is a view of the inside of the Arch as you go up in the futuristic pod.

Inside Arch

At the top, you are 630 feet from the ground and man, what a view!

At the top

On one side you have the city of St. Louis. You can also see Busch Stadium where the Cardinals play. You could also see Edward Jones Dome where the Rams play, but you really have to stretch yourself to see the dome. You are viewing these sights from windows that are maybe 7 inches in height and 18 inches in length and have to bend at an awkward angle to look through the windows.

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Cardinals Stadium - Copy

On the other side, you can see the Mississippi River. Imagine the steamboats back in Mark Twain’s day, where it was the major mode of transportation before the trains came along. St. Louis was too late in the game in building tracks and Chicago ended up being a major trade center of the midwest. There’s your history lesson for the day. LOL.

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I’m so glad I got to experience the Arch. And hopefully, you learned something too! (like how you can go in the Arch – which most of my friends didn’t know lol)

SpoQuo – Little Women

13 Tuesday May 2014

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Sigh – my first post in over 4 months. It’s been quite hectic with the new job, bridesmaid responsibilities, etc and I’ve neglected this blog. Now I’m back – with a vengeance 🙂 Coming soon – a St. Louis recap and another style post on several outfits worn during my blogging hiatus.

In the meantime, I’m starting a new category for Inspirational Quotes or SpoQuo for short. It will consist of memes, quotes, phrases, pictures and other relevant things to inspire us women.

The first quote comes from a movie I was watching last night – Little Women. Haven’t read the book but it is on my reading list. Anywho, there is a scene where the mother is having a discussion with her daughters and says:

“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world. But I know you’ll make it a better place.” — Marmee, Little Women”

― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

This part really stuck with me. It’s hard to look past all the unrealistic, photoshopped and “ideal” images of beauty spewing from every aspect of our lives and to resist the need to find or maintain superficial youth. But as it fades with time, what’s left? (And, I say superficial youth because I believe, it’s crucial to stay young at heart; maintain the creativity that accompanies youth. Not to take yourself too seriously and not to live your life caring about about what other people think. True freedom is the ability to be and love yourself.)

Continuing on the topic, we all tell little girls how cute or pretty they are and we really need to curb that attitude. I am guilty of it too but I try to make a conscious effort to tell girls to value their brains, not just their beauty. To care about what they can make of themselves, to have big dreams and to work hard at achieving them.

If only Louisa May Scott could see us now.

Book Review: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

03 Friday Jan 2014

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So I’ve been reading a lot more since I’m going to start studying again and might as well get used to reading with something fun! Also I’ve had kids that have taken over the house for the past week so the TV hasn’t been an option. It doesn’t help that all my shows are essentially over either. Lol.

I picked up this book while at Target with my nephews. They received gift cards for Target and wanted to use it. Reconstructing Amelia is a title from the Target Book Club and I actually got one of the first edition signed copies. It’s about a lawyer/single mother that loses her daughter to what is initially believed to be suicide. The book is suspenseful as the story unfolds and the mom, Kate, investigates her daughter’s death.

Many have referenced Gone Girl to this book and there are similar themes in terms of suspense and thrill but I wouldn’t say this book was as good as Gone Girl but comes very close. I also like how it deals with real life issues like cyber-bullying and gives the reader a look into how teen suicides could and do happen. It really reveals how vicious teenaged mob mentality can be and what girls have to go through. Even if they seem to be well-adjusted. Good read and I would highly recommend!

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