It’s been all about color and prints for me this summer. The bolder prints and the brighter the colors, the more I enjoy the outfit. Pink brightens my face like soft light and it really stands out in the sea of black that some many women wearing. I am not trying to be an imitator of other people’s style, but I want to make my own style statement. My hubby tells me to embrace my uniqueness and if I like it, nothing else really matters.
This is a regular workday outfit for me, where I dress in layers. It may be hot and humid outside, but it can be chilly on the inside. Layers meaning a black shirt with a true pink Bob Mackie T-shirt. I added a belt to define my waist. The piece de resistance is the Bob Mackie Tropical Paradise Gaucho Knit Pants that are a vibrant burst of pink and red variations with splashes of black in the backdrop. Do you notice how the colors are balanced? The gauchos take center stage in this outfit. If I really wanted to step out, I could add a printed top with the pants. However, I don’t believe that I need it. The solid top adds balance to the outfit and makes it work-appropriate. I went with black wedges for my shoes, but I could also have paired it with pink espadrilles or nude wedges.
Do not be afraid of bold colors. If you are in a black rut or tend to wear monotone hues, you can make it work for you by adding small amounts of color to your top, pants, skirt, shoes, or scarf, and see how you feel in it.
It’s sunny, hot and humid here in the Midwest. But what do you expect, it is August. Work has been keeping me busy lately with quite a few projects. I feel so relaxed working on summer style posts.
Soft Surroundings has quickly become one of my favorite retailers for high-quality fashion pieces. If you have looked through its website, you know that the items are at a higher price point because the fabric and details are higher quality. Being a savvy shopper, I tend to look at the clearance and sale sections to see what has been marked down. I recently found the Lupita top with tie-front, shown in the photo above. This fabulous top retails for $79.95, but I was able to find it on sale for only $19.95. WOW!
I felt floral fancy. The pink roses and the corresponding colors are year-round and the tie in the front is effortless. A colleague said that it reminded her of Paris. I wore a black tank underneath, but it is not a necessity. The top is not shear and is not see-through. The lace skirt is from Isaac Mizrahi Live line from QVC. It is a perfect pair for summer with the cool cotton fabric. I am constantly on the move throughout the day while at work, so I want my shoes to be comfortable, but chic. These blush Sketcher wedges fit the bill. I can walk with added height and my feet well supported. The Sketchers Suede Peep-Toe Slingback wedges -Stylin are on clearance right now on QVC for only $37.12.
Jewelry
I wore my jasper necklace on a leather cord, Grandmother’s Buttons earrings and My Saint My Hero Bracelets. When it’s hot, I don’t wear as much jewelry.
Handbag
Dooney and Bourke Hattie is the handbag I chose with this outfit. The leather is soft and pliable and feels like a second skin.
I felt confident, chic and floral fancy. So pretty in pink!
Today is July 29th. I will be upfront with you. I use to hate this day. Whenever I heard it mentioned or saw it on the calendar, my heart would break and my mood would dampen. How could a single day have such an effect on me? Well, on this day, back in 1987 my father passed away when he lost his battle with lung cancer.
The only known photo of only me and my father together.
I was only twelve. I felt like my whole world had been broken and shattered. I didn’t know what it all meant and I didn’t know how to handle it. Only two months had passed from the time that my father found out that he had lung cancer to the day that he died. My family had to deal with the shock of the diagnosis, the trauma of him being in ICU and the agony of him being unable to breath on his own or talk with us. My summer started out thinking about making the baseball team and ended with learning how to restart my life without my father.
As the years passed, it didn’t get any easier. When the calendar would change to July, my thoughts would turn to my father. Memories would race through my mind. I would think about the times that he missed out and I didn’t have with him in my life: the first shave, the graduations, the father-son talks, the holidays. Depression and anger gripped my life and held a tight hold over me. I was angry at him that he had died. I was angry that cancer took him away from me. I was angry that I didn’t have my father to help me through the stages of life. The more angry that I got, the more depressed that I got. The anger and depression came to a breaking point eight years later when my oldest sister died from lymphoma.
The anger and depression further escalated, and I had no way of dealing with it. It was my final year of college and my life seemed to be out of control. I had stopped attending church because I felt like it had betrayed me after my father and sister died. I turned 21 and I began spending time in bars with my college acquaintances. I tried to dull my pain; but it didn’t seem to help.
I graduated from college and began my new life on my own. However, I still faced a difficult road ahead because I had no way to deal with the depression and the anger. But soon my life would begin to change when I met someone, while at work, who would help me take that first step on the road to recovery. We both had difficult circumstances in our childhood that we had to overcome. She had lost her mother a few years prior; and together we helped each other cope with the loss of a parent. All the while, she also encouraged me to re-examine my faith in God and it took me back to church. This was not the traditional denominational church that I was use from my childhood. It focused more on a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It was in the relationship and the studying of what God tells us in His word that I began to see my life change.
I am no longer angry. I am no longer living a state of depression and sadness. By studying what God’s word says, I learned that my father’s sickness was a part of the devil’s plan to steal, kill and destroy his life; and take away the good memories my father had created. My faith in God, His Son and His word has strengthened me and keeps me strong on days like today.
Now when July 29th approaches, my attitude is much different. The heartache and pain has given way to peace and joy. Peace in knowing that the disease may have destroyed his body; but it didn’t take away his spirit. I have joy knowing that he wanted me as his son and convinced my mother to have just ‘one more baby’!! I focus on the good memories we shared and the positive influence he had on so many other people. Until this day, I have found no one who has a bad word to say about him.
It is worth noting here that the wonderful woman who started out with me as a colleague at work. But we soon became very close friends. And on September 11, 1999 she became my wife and we are celebrating twenty years of marriage. Thank you, Lord Jesus for putting my baby in my life and helping me see that I didn’t have to live with depression and anger.
When I look in the mirror these days I don’t see the same person I use to see when I was in my twenties. I see a person who really has to watch what she eats and work out at least 4 to 5 times a week. And even though I work out and eat the best that I can, I still have never got to that miracle size 0 or 00 that everyone is loving these days. I weigh the same but it seems like my weight has shifted so I have to work out those areas harder than before because clothes fit differently. No matter how many creams I use on my face or weights I lift, I still get caught up in that fight for trying to look young and youthful. If you are over the age of 25 the media bombards you on news ads, movies, etc. that you have to do this or do that to get that youthful glow that your daughter or niece has at the age of 14. I have not had any children so I can’t blame them on having to keep my tummy toned and thighs tight. I still have to work out to keep myself toned and it’s not the dancing only, I have to work out with weights and do leg lifts and it’s not easy.
It’s what’s inside that matters, right?
Yes, it’s what’s inside that matters, however, what people first see is me not my guts. I have often heard people say that when they are over 40 that they don’t care anymore and if they want the gray hair to show or those wrinkles to appear that it doesn’t matter because they feel free. I have never considered myself beautiful so it’s really odd that I am doing videos and talking about fashion and beauty. I think that what matters is that I love myself because God made me. And I must admit that it has not been easy for me to be an influencer because I have always been my worst critic and enemy.
I created this blog as an outlet for my passion beyond work. I feel good that I have succeeded at that goal. My blog is not about popularity because this girl has never been voted Ms. Popular in life, not even by my family. When I fall down I have always managed to get myself up and dust off my britches to start again. It’s that never quit factor.
Resilience and Stamina
Reflection: When I was asked if I had any children, I said no not now. The first thing out of this person’s mouth was, “that’s a shame.” What is shameful about it? That I don’t fit the status quo? I know that people assume I hate kids and that’s why I don’t have them. You don’t know my story, and the point is you don’t have to know my story because we should treat everyone with kindness and love. Yes, the kindness and love seem to be forgotten and in today’s world. It’s making assumptions about everyone’s life when you really don’t know who they are in any shape or form. I have never fit into a specific click, status quo, with the cool kids, group, race, or club. Even in my childhood days even if I tried I never fit in.
I use to think that only certain people really had true joy and better opportunities. We have a choice and it is so simple to say F###! it and screw the whole universe, but God sees no benefit in that for us. God gives me a choice and it’s up to me to make that decision to do the work on the inside so the outside projects how I truly feel.
What do I mean?
I have been reading, “The Power of I AM,” by Joel Olsteen. This book has been very therapeutic for me. Having a positive outlook on life is not popular and too much negativity can really bog you down. If I had looked at some of the reviews on Amazon I wouldn’t have purchased the book but Joel is one of my favorite people to listen to and I looked past all that.
The Power of I AM: Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today
I am somebody and I do count. When we talk down about ourselves, we give place to the enemy because the devil doesn’t want you to live your best life. No matter what economic status or title you may have God sees us all the same in His eyes.
We have so many reasons to throw in the towel, but that would be too easy. As long as there’s breath in your body you have a chance to change and be the best you possible.
My hair journey began when I looked for new products to help my it grow and for it to be in softer and in better condition. Early one, I found Ojon Restorative Treatment. I really believed that it helped get my hair stronger and more vibrant. My hair felt more moisturized and softer. I decided not too long ago to not use any more relaxers on my hair. I wanted to find more natural methods and products. One tub of Ojon cost $50 at the time. It was one of the most expensive products that I used, but it worked so it was worth it. One day I turned on the television and saw on QVC the founder and his wife on and her hair was beautiful. QVC had Ojon for a few years. The company was sold to Loreal then it went to Origins. Later it was not available anymore unless you saw it on Amazon or eBay for exorbitant prices. That was crazy.
Last year I saw the creator of Ojon on HSN selling a new line called Tweak-d. I saw Tweak-d shampoo and conditioner. And I saw a new version of the restorative treatment call Tweak-d Restore Ancient Rituals Rejuvenating Oil. I was excited and wanting to hear more.
More information about Tweak-d Restore Ancient Rejuvenating oil
*HSN site
What It Is: An intensive hair and body oil formulated to help moisturize dry hair and skin.
What It Does
Helps to rejuvenate the look of dry skin and hair
Helps to moisturize dry skin
Can be mixed with your body creams, shampoos, conditioners and styling products for a boost of hydration
The ingredients on the back of the box
TWEAK-D RESTORE HAIR & BODY OIL
Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Bassia Butyracea Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Elaeis Guineesis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Elaeis Oleifera Kernel Oil, Prinsepia Utilis Seed Oil, Parfum/Fragrance, Mel (Honey), Tocopherol. I heard on one of the presentations that the fragrance was natural but I have to do some research on that.
Tweak-d Restore Ancient Rituals Rejuvenating Oil is said to be Ojon taken up a notch. I purchased it when it was a Today’s Special on auto-delivery on Hisn.com. I used as a leave-in conditioner but you can also use it as a pre-treatment or body lotion.
Here’s a video below about the oil.
It’s so great to have the Ojon, I mean a pumped-up version call Tweak-d Restore Ancient Rituals Rejuvenating Oil back.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
More information about Tweak-d Restore Ancient Rejuvenating oil
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