Happy Kwanzaa (Celebration)

Each and every year we host a Kwanzaa Dinner at work. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday so we weren't going against any policies. To learn more about Kwanzaa and its founder click here http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

I decided to post a few pictures of the decorations that my co-worker put together for the celebration.  My favorite part is when we do the libations which I actually do not have any pictures of. But none the less, I hop you enjoy the few I do post.

Upside down pineapple cake

East African Dish

Injera (East African Dish), Collard Greens, and Liberian Potato Salad (left)

Sambusa (East African Dish)

Thrifted Jewel and Ruben Studdard

This posting is two-fold: one to share with you a necklace and brooch in one that I bought at a local Goodwill store (Roseville or Woodbury).  I fell in love with the abstract details and earth toned colors.  It goes really well with several pieces in my closet.  I usually pair the necklace with this gold bracelet from Francesca's Collection.

Click here and scroll down to see the gold bracelet in a posting I did this summer.
  http://tdrenice.blogspot.com/2011/07/jewels-to-die-forsummer-2011.html#more

~front~

~back~

Secondly, I regret that I missed out on my intended stop to Two Birds Vintage Boutique this weekend, but duty as a mother and volunteer was calling.  On Friday night I had to go to my son's first basketball game as a high schooler and on Saturday, I volunteered and worked the Miss Black Minnesota USA Scholarship Pageant.  Ruben Studdard was the guest artist and boy did he sing.  I was able to capture a few pics from stage left.

Happy Sunday folks!

Another Sunday has come and I decided to take a few outfit pics.  The boots are supposed to be at my knee, but I had slouched them down a little bit during our after-church dinner.  The red wrap served as a light coat for me on this cloudy, chilled day.

boots: mia from macy's (purchased last year)
dress: george from wal-mart (purchased in 2009)
necklace: macy's (purchased in atl)
jacket: guess


toodles...

Ain't nothing going on but the rent!

Just as my title indicates, taken from a 1986 song by Gwen Guthrie, I haven't really been up to much.  Nothing exciting, just the normal hustle and bustle of daily life.  I can't believe that I haven't blogged in a month!  I have, however, been reading other people's blogs.  I decided today that I will join www.PinInterest.com so that I can have a place to store and share things of interest that I find on the world wide web.  The Christmas holidays are coming up and I usually try to find a simple craft to do with my mother-in-law and my kids.  I saw a few in different places online and desperately need to save them without having to clog up the memory on my computer.  PinInterest would be perfect for all of my idea storage needs.

As far as outfit posts go, I haven't taken any good pics and therefore do not have any to share.  I guess I could have always posted a few outfit inspirations, but was too lazy to do so.

I will say that I am excited about attending my very first vintage sale sponsored by "Two Birds Boutique". For those of you who are vintage clothes lovers or looking to add/learn about the vintage look, check them out at http://twobirdsboutique.blogspot.com/2011/11/two-birds-vintage-workshop-sneak-peek.html.


toodles....

Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow

     Monday has come and gone.  I actually made a conscious effort to try and take a few blog pics in my office today playing around with a different camera, Nikon Coolpix S3100 to be exact. 
     I did a rush job on my hair and makeup which is why I tried to fade my pics out.  I really just wanted to capture the bright yellow for such a gloomy, Fall day.  My mother, the fashion icon of the family, ALWAYS made me wear bright colors on gloomy and rainy days when I was a kid.  I despised doing so back then despite the many compliments I received from my teachers and other adults.  
     I do realize, however, that this particular shade of yellow is not exactly in the Fall fashion line up, but hey, it's my blog and I make the rules.  Have a fabulous week folks.

yellow bracelet~Dots

black and yellow shirt~Dots 

Toodles....

OOTD and Leopard Print Flats...Happy Sunday ;-)

Quick weekend picture posting....Enjoy!

Shoes~Tahari Patent Leather Pumps | TJ Maxx

Leopard Jacket~thrifted from My Sister's Closet 

leopard print shoes from Herbergers

It's been almost a month

Who would've thought that something as fun as blogging would go astray.  I never imagined being way too busy to actually blog.  After all, it was growing on me and becoming one of my favorite hobbies.
Because I do not have a record number of followers, I am able to go a month without posting, right?  Believe it or not, one of my followers actually asked about recent postings.  Here are a couple of outfit postings of not great quality because they were taken with my cell phone, but you will at least see my creativity at work. ;--))

Black and florals...dress worn as shirt belted with black jacket from Guess | Shoes~Aerosoles (thrifted)

Red maxi dress~Target thrift store |  Grey jacket~Guess | Red bracelets~Dots | Silver necklaces~ JCP | Grey/White belt~Wet Seal

Animal print ensemble with black knit pants | Sunday's Best Boutique

 Hope you enjoyed viewing,

Toodles....

Quinceanera! Happy 15th Iliana!

On Friday evening, we spent time at my son's friend Quinceanera.  We attended Mass first and moved to another location for the presentation. There was complimentary cerveza for the adults.  Everyone seemed to enjoy watching the kids 3 dance presentations and dancing a little bit ourselves.

Happy 15th Birthday Iliana! We love YOU! Muah!

Family outing: Local zoo!

Unfortunately, our local, neighborhood zoo has quite the rep for being hideous.  Despite this infamous rep, locals still gather there for an outing of some sort primarily because it's FREE!  Sooo, while there my family and I found the pink flamingo's to be pretty interesting. We found ourselves joining in with the other visitors gazing over at them. I particularly like the second pic I took of the pink flamingos. The way the sun reflected off the water to enhance their color was on point.

Ahhh, at last!  We got to one of my top favorite animals at the zoo. The giraffe. It's one of my favs because I find the tall stature, long legs, small face, long eyelashes to be glamourous. I also love the pattern of their coat/fur. I'd love to have a faux giraffe print in my wardrobe...maybe in a handbag or a pair of shoes. ;-)

toodles...

Sunday's dinner is done!

I decided to throw in a quick posting regarding one of my signature meals...GUMBO.
I often refer to myself as being non-domestic as cooking and cleaning aren't my thing, but I do partake for survival.

The gumbo contains the following meats: shrimp, beef sausage, and boneless chicken breast.

My family ate and ate and ate until they couldn't eat anymore!

toodles...

Outfit of the day ;-)

I was had my son take this quick outfit picture for me while at a picnic.  I am wearing stretchy, skinny jeans and a paisley tunic purchased at Marshalls.  The jade green necklace with gold butterfly and chain (see previous posting) is from Francesca's Collections, a small boutique in the local malls.

Toodles...

Help Me!

I know I don't have many followers (yet), but I am asking for some assistance from you with this one.  I spotted these lovelies while out looking for something else.  My goal is to wear these before summer ends.   I'd love to put together a little something like what  Charee Lenee'  put together in her "Pretty In Pink" post.  She used hot pink or fuchsia and I'd like to do the same look with Bumble Bee yellow.  So far, the only thing I can think of is this 'off white' (blouse and pants) to wear the yellow with.  What do you all think?

Shoes: Varsavia Viamara | thrifted from Plato's Closet
Belt: Target

Toodles...

the beginning of a beautiful friendship, J. Crew

(patting myself on the back!)

You would not believe how quick of a study I am.  I am really trying to grasp this fashion stuff. (insert serious face).  My previous post was about me wanting to put together a "lookbook".  Well I am getting pretty darn close with this one; although I am not sure if a lookbook can consist of only two pics.  I am going to play it safe and refer to this one as "a look" that I am going to duplicate from J. Crew.

So when I was sent this advertisement from J. Crew with this look in the body of the email.  My learnings set in immediately.

On a visit to my mom's, I went vintage shopping through her handbags and to my surprise she gave me some of her best Italian leather bags that I called "page-boy" bags (correct me on this one).  I have had them in my possession for a few months now but hadn't quite figured out how to sport them.

Take a look at my version:

Shoes: BCBG from Nordstrom Rack
Handbag: gifted from my mother's vintage collection

Shoes: purchased from Turnstyle consignment shop

So what do you think?  Did I pull the duplication off?  Well, I am giving myself an A+ for this one!

Toodles...