Its been a while... my long lost lover

I've been gone, I have taken a leave to fulfill certain goals and figure out the kinks in my dreams but now I am back and I am refreshed and I am stronger than I've been in a long time. I must admit that 2011 was a year of growth, a year of maturing, and a year of accomplishments. I am now proudly a graduate student at the precise university I wanted. I must first and foremost thank God for every moment he has held my hand, and most importantly for opening doors I can only dream of. I am happy- truly so. I am content with the foundation I have laid this past year, and I know that 2012 will prove to blow me out of my comfort zone and into a new me! I am beyond excited! This year I have loved, and this year I have lost, but in both I have gained a sense of entitlement and finesse. A new attitude behooves me, and a stronger mindset craddles the confines of my aspirations. I am a woman of my word, I make it happen, with God of course. I thought I had lost myself and thus I found it excrutiating to slip into the comfort of my words and the expression of these pages that so closely resemble the me I want to be. I am closer than I was 6months ago but this same time next year I will be beaming. Thank you for the heartache and thank you for the pain. Thank you for the times I wanted to give up and did, because they only gave me reason to come back. 2011, its been real but 2012 has something in store for me- something fresh. This chapter in my life has closed and with it I leave tucked away dearest loves. The past shall remain the past, and my scars remind me that they were real. A real red badge of courage. So here's to the new year and the new me. The new love I have to meet in a new city, new faces, new opportunities, and an entire world before me. I love you all and I promise so much more to come!

♥

Minny

late nights...n early mornings... keep fresh feet light and free

♥

Minny

G-Shock Monster

This one's for my dearest most sincerest most beloved most astounding inspiration- Gisselle. My best friend and sister. I've loved her for 20 yrs officially last wednesday, cannot believe it's been that long that God has blessed me with her. She's articulate and amazing. There's a moment when we realize that our best reflections are found in the eyes of those we can gaze into and know that we love unconditionally, my eyes will always reflect nothing but beauty and ingenuity when they gaze at her. She's amazing. Sometimes I just listen to her talk, just looking into her big brown eyes and think about all the things that make her completely indescribably unrivaled- and I realize that she's oblivious to most. The way that we will never see all the reasons we make others smile. I get lost in deep soul conversations with her for hours, we have the most insane and unexplainable inside jokes that fill my insides with uncontrollable, cascading life-giving laughter and we can have the greatest time doing absolutely nothing for absolutely free. Spot the hotties and all the bargains in the same hour. She makes my day. I am so proud to see the woman she is becoming and cannot wait to witness the years to come. I think I am more excited than her. 

Her courage to take on a life that at her age I was too fearful of to do more than dream, inspires me to set even higher standards for myself. I admire her ability to stand true to herself, to be herself at all times, unapologetically. It fires me inside. She's classic and graceful, delicate and loving. She's taught me patience, well she's tried, and in the back of my mind I can always hear her voice, "Mayra, just wait." She's reticent but she's worth it because not everyone deserves a piece of your heart or the opportunity to hear a piece of your mind- she's taught me to save it. She's taught me to love- hard and to forgive- quickly and to be slow to anger and slow to speak. 

So I want you to learn this from me- take risks, be free even if it means a little brow sweat and some trouble. We can never forget the things we never said- sometimes we need to fight for what our heart is dying to have. It's ok to make mistakes, lots of them,  just as long as get up and keep your skin tough and your heart soft. They also make for excellent memories and stories for my nieces and nephews. 

There's nothing wrong with being crazy and there's nothing wrong with being irrational- life is never perfectly planned out. See your beauty every second of every day and never understimate the impact you will make. Know that your dreams are powerful and that they are real. Always remember that Nothing is Impossible.  So, in this year I pray the greatest of your wishes and dreams into reality. Say yes to yourself. Make all the memories a lifetime can never hold, and take all the adventures your mind can conjure. The world is waiting for an exhuberantly beautiful being named YOU.

I love you avec tout ma petite coeur ♥

Doing What we Do BEST! ; )

Happy 20th Year of Life G-Shock Monster!!! I love you with all of my heart beautiful!

♥

Minny

Hello ms caramel skin pretty big brown eyes with soft lips... where you been?

Ring My Bell

This past weekend I had the honor of sharing one of the greatest milestones in the life of one of my most loved friends- her wedding day. I remember when we met our freshmen yr in college, we were inseparable.  She was always the shy and sweet one, I was the fiesty and outgoing one- polar opposites. Still our hearts were linked by the same trademark- we fearlessly guarded everyone we loved. I remember sitting in her dorm room, after coming back stuffed from the dining hall, we'd talk for HOURS about life! We lived through countless laughs and tears, first sparks and break-ups, adventures and mischief, bad haircuts and good manicures! Now five years later I am so proud and amazed at how perfectly her story has turned out. After all the struggles that brought her to this point she is finally where she belongs- in the arms of a man who loves her as the woman that she is! Izzy was always the one to picture her fairytale, I dabbled in the fantasies a bit but that was all her scene. Watching her this past saturday, tears welled in my eyes and the excitement oozed from my pores as I witnessed the happiest moment in her life- her lips formed the words "I DO," and I knew this was the moment she had always pictured. A beautiful bride- beauty is more than an understatement- anyone who knows her knows that she is a phenomal woman, strong, genuine,  fervently loving and loyal. Her husband is blessed beyond measures and there is no doubt in my mind that he considers himself nothing less than. 

Wedding's make you realize exactly where you are in life. They make you take a look at yourself, you either see yourself there- picture the dress and the bridesmaids, the decor, and even try to imagine the groom. Ideally he's tall and handsome, with a gorgeous smile, loving eyes, and genuine heart. You may find yourself in a place in life where you can picture that moment, looking into the eyes of your significant other in anticipation. Still some find themselves happy that they are not in that dress, the commitment is too immense to step into just yet. Meanwhile others wonder what they are going to do with yet another bridesmaid dress and no wedding gown; looking around and counting the time as the memo seems to continue to miss their inbox. Then there are those who have passed the stage, whether its a few months or years, or its been cemented with the commitment of anniversaries and children. Those who see the product of this day in their aging hands, or in the youth of the little ones. Regardless of the life, regardless of the time, there is something about a wedding that is magical and real. It makes you asses the purpose of your life and the direction in which you are headed and the trails you have tracked and the miles you have yet to run.

::I had no intentions of catching the bouquet... merely filling up space in the crowd::  ; )

That being said, I had the pleasure of sharing this weekend with my amazing n handsome friend of four years who I love very much. He was the perfect company, especially since we met through Isabel, but more than that he stood through my endless inside jokes, laughter, and nonsensical conversations like a champ! Thanks pumpkin! 

♥

Minny 

Liza Eve

This is my beautiful and talented sister- Liza Eve. This song is an original, one of her countless brilliant originals of course. She is my absolute favorite unsigned singer/songwriter, and I die at the sounds of her passionate croons. She is amazing. A small fact about myself- my sisters and I form a band called "Element of You" we write our own music. Either way, I leave you with this small piece. I hope you guys enjoy it and feel free to pass along the goods!

Nigerian Queen

Introducing. Ms. Nikki

I love this girl- met her two years ago when I worked as a manager at F21- she was one of my sales associates and we instantly clicked due to our paralleled fashion addictions. Her urban classy style is extremely feminine and live and her extroverted grandeur will leave you with a sure smile on your face.  She's that chic that is always in heels... and ALWAYS in the mall! ♥ her!

Follow My boo on her blog Barelydreszed.tumblr.com You won't be disappointed!!

♥

Minny

♥ this version

Back When I Had Long Hair

My theory is... If you act fearless about who you are... it'll eventually transpire so they'll just shutup and accept it.

♥

Minny