Friday, December 28, 2012

Holiday Spirit- Giving Is Winning

Hey Guys! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday whether you spent it in the Christmas spirit or it was just a Tuesday for you.  This Holiday season my family, friends, and I spent giving back to those who need it the most.  My aunt Lynn started a program called Operation Santa 17 years ago.  The Operation Santa Program answers letters to Santa from children in Impoverished and underserved neighborhoods in the New York area.  This past week we visited family homeless shelters in Harlem and Brooklyn. We brought them tons of gifts, sang Christmas carols, and the holiday spirit magic.  My favorite thing about this Christmas holiday was giving out hats, gloves, earmuffs, and scarves on the street.  My aunt Lynn loaded my younger cousins and I into the minivan along with bags and bags full of new, cute, and very warm hats, gloves, scarves, and earmuffs and we went driving around Brooklyn.  We stopped every time we saw a child or a family outside without any of those items and we gave them out for free!  Oh the look on their faces was filled happiness and joy. The feeling of helping someone who doesn't expect help it at all is worth more than any gift I could ever receive.  Needless to say the Christmas spirit isn't about getting, it’s about giving.  That’s when you really win.


"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” 

Happy Holidays!

Xoxo
-Rain












Sunday, December 16, 2012

Magic Words

Turn Your Obstacles Into Oppourtunity

Embracing Solitude/Self Acceptance


I was just here thinking to myself and....

Many of us feel the need to constantly be around others to feel at ease, to feel at peace.  I find that when we are alone we face one of the hardest challenges of all.  We face ourselves.  Our brains go into overdrive retracing every single thing that has went wrong or good in life.  We face the questions we ask ourselves often but now they are in super sonic cycles of repetition.  We are afraid of this.  Oh yes we are. Being alone can be extremely painful or time well spent, its up to you. Lately I have been spending mass amounts of time in solitude and I have learned two things.  One loving yourself is key. You cannot get through life always depending on others to fill a gap of importance or whatever it is that we are looking for in others. Loving yourself isn't easy but it can be done.  Get to know yourself, you may think you already do but we can surprise ourselves. Two, just because you are alone it doesn't mean you have to do lonely shit.  You can go out for a walk, go to the  city, dance, sing,  pray, create something, don't be afraid to answer those questions you ask yourself.  Seek those answers.  Often times we look for enjoyment and fulfillment in others.  The key to any healthy relationship anywhere is if you learn to accept and love yourself people will come along that will add to how wonderful you are.

We are looking for love and acceptance in the wrong places people!! You must first find it in yourself if you truly want to be whole.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection” 


LOVE & ACCEPT YOURSELF! 


Until next time....


Xoxo
-Rain

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Indigo











I never wear dresses, well maybe like once a season or so.  I found my disco mini dress in my closet and I felt like busting loose! Whoop! I added some thigh high studded tights to give a peak a boo effect.  Ok now the fringe western jacket I must say was by accident. I was walking in the city and it found me. Purple and fringe make everything OK  I love this jacket!!!  Platform sneakers are a great way to add height without the pain.  These red suede platform sneakers are from the Jeffery Campbell Play collection. They are my new favorite shoe.  I felt like I was in a band today.

xoxo
-Rain


Disco Mini Dress & Fringe Jacket from AbstractRain.Bigcartel.com
thigh High Studded Tights from Topshop.com
Jeffery Campbell Platform Sneakers From UrbanOutfitters.com

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Moisturizing Box Braids, Twists and Yarn Braids


When dealing with natural hair it can become frustrating at times pertaining to the growth rate and overall care.   I know many of us natural goers are turning to styles like box braids, twists, and even yarn braids and dreads as protective styles. While all of the above can help protect your hair they can be the very culprit to destroy it.  Many of us are guilty of throwing in some box braids or twists and just forgetting about taking care of our hair while in protective styles.  Here are 3 Easy steps to get you on the path of moisturized hair!


Rule #1 Moisturize Braids/Twists etc.
Not the entire braid/twist but the part from the root to where your real hair stops.  That causes you not to waste product on the many other inches of extensions.  A good product that I stand by is Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner.  It’s a natural spray on leave in conditioner that works wonders.

Rule #2 Nourish Your Scalp
You must treat your hair like a plant if you want it to grow.  Think of your scalp at the roots and soil.  You must fertilize!!  I use Olive oil and  raw Coconut oil to nourish my scalp and also my hair in protective styles. Both can be found at the grocery store or health store.
Rule #3
A silk or satin scarf/head wrap is your best friend.  The fibers in a silk or satin scarf/head wrap do not pull and tug on your edges which leads to less breakage and dryness as appose to a cotton scarf/head wrap.

Stay moiturized!

Xoxo
Rain





Sunday, December 9, 2012

GenesisTramaine


Artist: genesis TRAMAINE

This past Thursday I was blindly invited to an art exhibit in Brooklyn and it went like this….

genesis TRAMAINE is an abstract artist, a member of Brooklyn Artistry & Company, who embraces blackness, misogyny, womanhood, and individuality.  Her paintings have properties such as black face and her own distinctive interpretation of the world around her. genesis is also a public school art teacher, educating primarily African American and Hispanic children.   In addition to a phenomenal collection of her own work, what I found extremely fascinating within the exhibit, included a wall dedicated to her students’ artwork.  It was a wall of self-portraits.  I found this wall to be so charismatic and was shocked at how truthful the students were in interpretation of themselves. Children can tell the truth better than any adult. My favorite piece at the exhibit is “Big Lip Tyrone” by genesis herself.  I love the exaggerated features and mustard-tone yellow is one of my favorite colors.  There was wine and the crowd contained insanely beautiful dapper women who were very pleasant.  A Thursday night spent absorbing art is a Thursday night well spent.














“I am totally excited about art.” – Genesis Tramaine

xoxo
-Rain




Saturday, December 8, 2012

Concrete











There is nothing like some runs in my stockings and a Badu wrap to make any outfit look like I don't care. The fabric store around my way shutdown so I trekked it all the way to Harlem to find some fabric for my badu wrap. I fell in love with this fab lose knit sparkle sweater that I layered over a simple all black mullet maxi dress.  Electric blue ankle boots and some circle stunna shades kicks some rockstar in the soul. I felt like careless fun today.  


xoxo

-Rain

Head Wrap is just 4 yards of Black Lace Fabric (Can be found at any fabric store)
Knit Sweater & Sheer Plum Tights from UrbanOutfitters.com
Mullet Maxi Dress from AbstractRain.bigcartel.com
Electric Blue Ankle Boots from CallItSpring.com
Circle Sunglasses from SusysCloset.com

Photography by AfricanCreature

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Tipping the Tightrope









To Whom It May Concern,
I don't mind being androgynous.
Sometimes, its when I feel the most beautiful.

It was brisk today so I thought I’d bring out the heavy coat.  I absolutely love my multicolor print jacket.  It was only $30!  My shirt is a result of a bleach tye dye experiment in my backyard which turned out pretty cool.  I thought it would go well with my canary yellow creepers I had for a year and wore only once. I found them under the bed and just had to wear them the same day.  Oh and let’s not forget the circle sunglasses and head wrap, they make me feel like a super hero. Today’s outfit was a collage that came out fly.

xoxo
-Rain


Bleach Tye Dye Button Up, High-Waisted  Denim Jeans, & Canary Tire Bottom Creepers from AbstractRain.bigcartel.com
Multiprint Jacket from Susyscloset.com

Photographed by: Africancreature

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