After All That We've Been Through...

One of my favorite videos, ever. 

Terrain

Last Weekend

Brunch at Grand Luxe Cafe for my niece's birthday. She's growing up so fast, I can't believe she's six already. Her and my little nephew bring so much joy to my life.

{Shopping} ASOS Haul-Mixed Prints

I want to start sharing some of my shopping hauls with you guys! I need to justify these frivolous expenses somehow, and sharing is caring right? I'm a serious impulse buyer, but what can I say? I love beautiful things and if its practical, the idea of going another day without the object of my desire nags at my sartorial conscious to the point that I actually breathe a sign of relief after going through the transactions resulting in that comforting confirmation email letting me know my new loves are on their way home. 

Exhibit A:  I totally fell in love with the design on this embroidered clutch bag by ASOS.  I got some really good use out of it when I went to Cali, I swear it complimented every.single. outfit! Thank the Lawd I copped it before it sold out. For similar Antrhopologie has some great options like {this} one which is a steal for only $24 or {this} one on sale for $39!!!

Exhibit B: How cute is my new leopard print passport holder? Nothing like travelling in style! I hope I can get some good mileage out of it this year.

xoxo, 

Vanessa

Solange for Net-A-Porter Magazine

I love it. I love it all.

 Photography by David Bellemere

Styling by Tracy Taylor

Click {here} for the article

My Weekend In San Diego

A couple pictures from a weekend in San Diego to visit my cousin and catch up on some much needed R&R. It's nice to get away from the city sometimes, I definetley need the occasional "breather" from city life here in Philly. California has such a calming, free-spirited atmosphere to me. Everything about being out here is so beautiful. 

<< Some highlights from the trip >>

Spending QT with my cousin who I rarely get to see since we're on opposite sides of the country! Dinner in Old Town-one of my favorite areas of SD; LOTS of girl talking, sleeping in everyday, Disney movies on Netflix,  the baddest shoes I've seen all Summer via BCBG, getting matched to the perfect moisture + priming cream from Smashbox, free makeover and makeup samples at Nordstrom, a new Moroccan inspired Dipti Clutch I snatched on super sale at Anthropologie (I really love this one too), East African vegan nomtasticness and cute flower vases at Hillcrest Farmers Market, which also turned out to be a vegan + gluten free paradise! Also Comic Con craziness going on downtown (not pictured), and flowers flowers flowers!!! 

Baddest Pocket Squares In The Game

Like, whaaaat?

Pocket Squares by Title of Work

They got cufflinks too, click {here}  for more.

Acts of War

 I came across these photos several days ago and felt so moved by them. These images were taken by the late photojournalist Chris Hondros during the civil war in Liberia in 2003. War. The whole concept seems so juvenile. Whichever side kills more of the opponents' is determined the winner. You would think in this day in age we would have thought of a more civil way to resolve conflict. And the innocent who are affected. The women the children. Lord have mercy on us...

***

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." 

Ephesians 4: 31-32

RWANDA

RWANDA from MAMMOTH on Vimeo.

I just thought this video was absolutley breathtaking! I definitely feel inspired to book another trip
 to the Motherland. African Safari anyone?

{source}

Spotted {@} The Brooklyn Flea

So one of my favorite flea markets ever (besides the Eastern Flea Market in D.C.) is the Brooklyn Flea, where I like to stock up on lovely one-of-a-kind accessories from time to time. That trek to New York isn't always feasibly though, so when I heard Brooklyn Flea would be hosting a market in Philly every sunday this summer I was stoked! I already had my Nikon on me yesterday from doing baby dedication photography at my church and was eager to keep snapping with my rented 85 mm lens (which I love by the way). The flea market had a nice vibe, a little more chill than the Brooklyn one. There were quite a few vintage clothing, jewelry and furniture resellers there. I also met a few awesome people I definitely plan on keeping in touch with! 

The "steez" got me with these too. Confident, casual, stylish. Original. I had to see what they were up to. The bearded man is Hamid Holloman and he's a multi-talented renaissance man of sorts, a visual artist in every sense of the word-painting, interior layouts, outdoor advertising, you name it. He also sells amazing one-of-a-kind custom and vintage pieces. There was just a natural coolness about him. For more about Hamid check out his website {here} and instagram @Hamid_Holloman

Then I ran into the two ladies below, talk about personal style! Come to find out they're also bloggers! Jody, on the left, runs a great fashion blog entitled Red Bag Report (I looove her outfit posts!) and Aya, on the right blogs at I Don't Do Clubs for things to do outside of the club scene in Philadelphia, which is right up my alley!

How cool is he? Love how the stripped shirt looks with the tats.

More from the Flea Market after the jump...

Afrobeats + Beyonce | "Grown Woman"

So this has been on repeat all weekend...enjoy!

Red Couch Living Room

So I just bought this beautiful, RED, heart-shaped couch for my living room on a whim. I was actually looking for something more neutral, like a brown or beige, to match the color palette I have going on, but when I saw this couch (on sale!) at Raymore and Flannigan the other day impulsivity took over and...I bought it! Now the dilemma...how does one decorate around such an obnoxious color? It's so...loud. Beautiful, but loud. I decided to embark on a cyberspace hunt for inspirations and made a pinterest board (I looove pinterest for stuff like this)!  I'm thinking...Africa, vintage, west indies, bright colors, greens and oranges, plants, mixed print pillows, wall art collages...energy, serenity, elegance. Does that make sense?