In The Fashionista's Closet: Judge Not

This pretty much sums up my weekend. Food, friends, drinks. Repeat.

Dress: H&M

Bangles: InPink/Forever 21

Earrings: Beauty Supply

Clutch: Rampage

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Have you ever been ashamed to admit that you like a song? A song that you would be mortified to play in front of your mom? I have one. I've been playing it all weekend. Constantly. I can't even link the video I'm so ashamed. The song is called "Ayy Ladies" by Travis Porter but it's not for the feint of heart. The lyrics are terrible but the beat is awesome. I've been told that I have hood taste in music but I prefer the term "well-rounded", I listen to everything. From the Dixie Chicks to Nas to Robert Glasper to...well, Travis Porter. So if you see a woman dancing really hard in her car and clapping her hands on Interstate 20, that's probably me listening to Ayy Ladies. Don't judge.

In The Fashionista's Closet: Thanks For Everything

So apparently Oprah (my Aunt O in my head) has launched a

"Thank You" Game Challenge.

 I love the way that Oprah has a way of making you think of things bigger than yourself.

So I thought that I would play along:

Thank someone who gave you an opportunity. That one's easy. Definitely the principal at my school. She took a chance on me when I was looking to prove myself to anyone who would give me a shot. She has been such a great example of leadership and I love working with her.

(P.S. She doesn't know about my blog that I know of so I'm not kissing up!)

Thank someone who taught you something. My students. They have taught me to (try) and be patient and to be resilient. Kids don't hold grudges but plenty of grown-ups do!

Thank someone who probably thinks you’ve forgotten all about them. My ex-neighbor and friend. She was a constant of strength for me when we lived near one another and although we no longer live near one another I think of her often. I can never repay her for all that she has given me. She seemed to have some type of Juanette ESP because she always knew when I needed a friend and would call or pop up when I needed her most. Her advice to me about anything that I was going through? Pray first before you make a decision. *I tend to react first.*

Thank someone who forgave you, or gave you a second chance. God. For Grace. Over and over.

Thank someone who taught you something. To C. For teaching me to enjoy the moment. And to chill out (my brain works overtime I've been told.) I'm still working on turning it off.

Shirt: Thrifted
Necklaces (2): H&M
Skirt: H&M Conscious Collection
Bracelets: Sam Moon, Forever 21
Clutch: Can't remember
Shoes: Jessica Simpson

I love this concept, I think that it is important to be grateful and show it to others.
Who would you like to thank today?

In The Fashionista's Closet: Golden Corral

Earrings: Nappy Rutz (You may see a familiar face on her site!)

I think that I've mentioned before that I'm not a good dater. I am more of a relationship type of girl.

I really don't like to play games, if I like you and you like me, that should be it, right?

Top: Marshalls

Bracelets: Forever 21/InPink

Jeggings (Yall know I hate that word): H&M

Shoes: Aldo

At least that's how it was when I was in 3rd grade....But the game done changed!

I think of dating like a buffet. Some people want a buffet all of the time, they want to pick and choose and eat whatever they want. *Insert joke here.* This is also why people tend to overeat and end up sick. 

I don't like buffets. In dating or as an eating option. Partially because I don't know the people who have been there before me (the jokes are writing themselves, people.)  Did they wash their hands, did someone sneeze over everything, did they let their kids touch the honey butter rolls and then put them back? And most of the time, I want a specific thing to eat because it is made specifically for me.

(See the analogy? Ummmmm hmmmm.)

A guy told me recently that he has a hard time with women because he is too simple. Sir. Simple is what we want.

Well I can only speak for myself. What I want. Simple. No games. A man who is decent. Dependable and kind. A man who can recognize a good thing when he sees it. And who doesn't have to eat everything at the buffet in order to know what he really wants. 

In The Fashionista's Closet: Mother Sucker

Went to visit my mother for Mother's Day. I love that woman. I'm a sucker for my mother. My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader, giving me hope when I had none, building me back up when I was at my lowest.

Top: H&M

Necklace: (Chain belt doubled up) Sam Moon

Skirt: H&M

Bracelets: InPink, Forever 21

Shoes: Steve Madden

My mom was a teen mom (before it was on MTV) and she's always had high expectations of me. She has always wanted better for me than what she had but what I really love about her is that she was never a victim of her circumstances.

We didn't grow up in the lap of luxury and for the majority of my childhood, my mom raised me and my sister as a single mom (before she met my stepdad and my youngest sister was born.)

But we never went without the necessities or wants for that matter. Now, as an adult, I know that my mother struggled but I never felt that as a child.

She told me that she never wanted us to know how tough it was and I didn't for a really long time. And that enabled me to be a kid. And for that, I am grateful.

Even though my mom thinks that I am too hard on myself, she has always respected whatever decisions that I make and been there whenever I have needed her. But she's also tough when I don't want her to be but need her to be. And I know that whatever comes my way, she will always, always show me unconditional love.  

My mom is a talented artist, a social butterfly, she's loyal to her friends and dependable to a fault. She's a voracious reader, quick witted, generous, constantly open to trying new things and loves to laugh. I'd like to think that I've inherited a little bit of some of what makes me and everyone else love her so much.

Happy Mother's Day to my mommy.

She's the absolute best.....

In The Fashionista's Closet: Lemons and Swag

My lemon pants are in honor of someone leaving a sour taste in my mouth. (But I love these pants!) Let's say I met a guy when I was leaving Target. Let's say the guy asked for my number and I gave it. We have never gone out because there has been something not quite right about him and I learned the lesson to go with my gut in situations like this. Remember Job Fair dude? Anway, Target Guy called and here are snippets of our conversations:

Earrings: Can't remember but I love them

Linen top: Thrifted

Pants: Thrifted (I <3 these pants)

Bracelets: Forever 21, Sam Moon

Bag: Prada

Shoes: Steven by Steve Madden

Him: So what do you do?

Me: I'm a teacher.

Him: Oh, ok. I'm the vice-president at a bank.

Me: *silence*

Him: Yeah, I told my cousin about you. I told him that you had swag.

Hold up, hold up, HOLD UP! What person over thirty years old is using the word swag seriously in a conversation? My students say swag and mean it. With them, everything is about somebody having swag, not having swag and being swaggerific. *Come on, son.*

He told me during one conversation that he really wanted to see me because he wore a suit to work and wanted me to see his swag.

AGAIN with the swag??? And if you are the vice-president of a bank, shouldn't you wearing a suit be an everyday kinda thing? I PRO-MISE you I was looking at my phone thinking, "I ain't about this life."

I believe that he may be a teller or works at Ace Check Cashing but he's no vice-president. Not that there's anything wrong with that but there's no need to lie.

He has asked me to send him a photo of myself. (I.did.not.do.that.) I think he's the type to show a photo around and tell dudes, "Yeah, that's me right there." And it is not.

But the kicker was yesterday. He sent me a text message after we got off the phone asking me what was my favorite shoe and shoe size.

*Drops the mic and walks away*

*Takes a bow.*

*You're welcome.*

Sir. You buying shoes for women? No flowers or candy, you coming up off monies to buy shoes??? You don't even know my last name. We've never even gone out! Do you think that this is an episode of Real Housewives or Basketball Wives?  But what I really want to know is WHO is this working on??? Next he's gonna wanna take me to Red Lobster with the cheddar biscuits. Game recognize game, sir. And you looking kinda unfamiliar right now. (See Boondocks clip below.)

This means that your game is wack, sir. He definitely needs to have a "Conversation with Chris!"

On a sidenote, I am rather pleased with other aspects of my personal life right now...

In The Fashionista's Closet: The Best Medicine

Found this nifty little number at the thrift store. It was long and shapeless and muu-muu-ish. Until I added the belt.

Earrings: Beauty Supply

Dress: Thrifted

Men's Belt: Thrifted

OH! I forgot to tell yall a funny story that happened when my students were testing a couple of weeks ago.

Bag: Prada

Bracelets: Forever 21/ InPink

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Kylie

Soooooo....we were testing and I had to go the bathroom quickly while someone watched my class. I went in, did my business and pulled my skirt up. *It was one of those stretchy tube skirts.* When I got back into my classroom I realized that I had pulled my skirt up the wrong way and it was now upside down. So the bottom of the skirt was now at my waist and it was inside out! The tag was sticking out at the bottom! I had to walk around and monitor that way until someone came to relieve me for my break. I was hoping that none of my students noticed, which I don't think that they did because they would have mentioned it, they don't miss much. #hotmess (Do people still say Hot Mess? I think that will never go out of style but I needs to know.)

I wasn't feeling like myself that day, I was stressed out worrying if my students would do well and hoping that I prepared them properly.

But I've learned you gotta laugh at times like these to get you through and if it's at your own expense, well that's just a bonus.  

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." e.e. cummings

 

 

Conversations With Chris: First Date Attire

I have a friend. Let's call him, Chris. (His name, in actuality, is Chris.) Chris and I were talking and he told me that he could write a book giving women and men dating advice. *Insert side eye here.* Chris is a tall, good looking dude, who I suspect sometimes thinks that he's Boris Kodjoe (he denies this.) But he says he has lots of female friends that come to him for advice. So I began to ask Chris questions about different scenarios and (some) of his advice made sense. When he would tell me "Looka here..let me tell you something..." then I knew that I was going to get a "Chris-ism" and thus an idea was born! I told him that I was going to give the readers of Fashion Nette-work the benefit of his "expertise" and help with dating and relationship dilemmas.

I asked Chris what should a woman wear on a first date. His response: "A man wants a woman who can show what she's working with but not too much thigh or too much breast." (I felt like he was talking about my favorite chicken shack!) Too much showing means that you're trying too hard and aren't really looking for a relationship. Not enough means you may be too conservative or uptight. But don't get him wrong, Chris said that a man sometimes likes to know that other men are checking his lady out but not because you are looking like you just left your job at the strip club. Chris' advice? "Don't look like a hoe. If we wanted to see hoes, we can go to the strip club!" So ladies, no clear heels, cutout bandage dresses or tip jars on your first date.

(Toni Braxton: DoingTheMost.com)

Straight from the man's mouth! Hoe = No. What say you? Agree or disagree? Any other questions for Chris? Speak on it... 

I would rock this on a date a la Mrs. Obama.