Photo Drop!

images via dirtylittlestylewhoree and adele&tessie

xo Sade

So, summer vacation has begun and I have yet to update in a little bit...you guys can probably already guess that I'm missing in action yet again. Well, woefully for my updating portion, it is true, I am out and about roaming another continent, yet again. Sometimes I take traveling for granted really, I mean not everybody can fly across the world every summer for 2-3 months to dwell and intern at different companies. Blessed isn't even encompassing enough. Anyway, I'm currently in the mother land working for what I thought was a Mom & Pop but turned out to be a huge corporation, kudos to Mariah for that line, it truly took forever for it to dawn on me. The CEO plane hops practically for a living and has a picture of him and President Obama shaking hands as one of the many memorabilia framing his walls, with Obama sporting an overzealous smile looking gracious to meet him. What a life right? Photo updates will be difficult seeing as though I am in a third world country at the moment and internet is not what I would call abundant, not to talk about reliable internet. But we've been through this many times, hang in there y'all, just deal with me please ~as annoying as I intentionally and unintentionally am, haha~

xxoo missusmonroe

P.S. In the summers accompanying my trips home I tend to let my hair fully breathe. I don't really discuss it much but I am on a hair journey. I've been on it for years honestly but I believe I officially declared it to myself this new year as I finally settled into reliable products after trialing multiple, avoiding heat as much as possible, and strengthening my hair for years until I finally reached this point where I can officially grow and compare from here. My point is here at home it is almost unbearably hot and electricity is not something one depends on so bringing tools that require being plugged in is simply a waste of time and luggage space. So I really am forced to do protective styles that I can't really do with extensions or anything alike in my hair. I just think it's so funny, a permed girl using a natural girl's techniques, but honestly that's the path I've been on. I've been natural before, back when it wasn't cool to have an afro and I got made fun of reliably, and it honestly was not for me. It was more work and tears than it was rewarding. This could also be because I was a lot younger and just didn't know how to manage my enormous head of hair other than braiding it, coupled with the disappointing and frankly depressing amount of shrinkage, I tamed my beast. Not to mention an African's, more specifically Nigerian's, natural is not the same under any circumstances, unless one is mixed, as an African-American's natural. Our hair is much more coarse and it might just be me but more of the nappy side than curly, and my hair is curly. Even when I was natural, for all the years I was I didn't have a pattern. Now that I am back to the permed life, I could care less that some believe I "gave in" and am trying to achieve "white girl hair", I'm identifying with a pattern I love. I know technically it's just a looser version of my own but I honestly am unbothered at the moment because my hair is healthy. So back to the permed using a natural's tips, I think it's quite smart and I recommend it to the few permed girls out there. There aren't an abundant amount of permed women sharing their journeys or infiltrating youTube with their tips and tricks videos so why not use the advice out there already, especially if natural hair is the "healthier" route, and just manipulate it as seen fit? Logically this should work; I hope I'm not the only person this makes sense to lol. This is the summer for my hair, to fully indulge and see where this gets me. Two years ago just keeping it in buns, stretching my perm, and applying leave-in conditioner once a week for two months made an unexpected amount of growth, until it was chopped off by an incompetent girl at the salon of course. *sigh* ~oh the memories~. I've been rambling but I think I got my point across somewhere lol. But I'll keep y'all updated!

This is such a random feeling post with this random outfit, ha I literally just reached into my suitcase, because of course there is no use of unpacking, and these were the items that ended up being in my hand. I believe my Jujus were the only thing I actually planned. In any case, the beginning of my day was spent in the wholesale division of D.C. ~I didn't even know of its existence, it's such a cheap, quirky place to find yourself. My mother and I went in the hopes of finding this shop that sells Ankara that my mom had previously visited. I wasn't impressed at first glance but they had some unique prints, not the same played ones you usually find in Nigeria where the next moomoo or babe down the street is wearing the same. You guys are well aware of my dilemma of imagining a certain thing and searching for it in stores for years only for it to appear years later? ~tell tale signs of a designer~ Well matching prints is in that category for me, along with all of the sandals I'm finally finding this season and still searching for. I know matching prints is out and about now in retail but I've yet to find the exact style in mind! The closest I've found is at H&M but who seriously wants to pay $30 a pop? (I may get it regardless depending on the fit but still! Principles people) So with this Ankara my imagination will come to life. I'm thinking of getting two matching prints done by the tailor, one with a crop that I can mix within my closet, and also hopefully a 5 panel hat. After the trip into the city I felt that itching sensation that pictures needed to be taken? Plus the sun was begging to do some amazing things. As the evening approached I went to my sister's grad cookout/luau (actual pictures of my GRID). I never did upload the post from her graduation...it'll be done soon.

xxoo missusmonroe

It's so incredibly strange, it doesn't even feel like summer! This is similar to when I graduated from high school and when I was done it was just like, oh yeah sure I'm just at home and ladidadi, but it didn't register that this is the beginning of vacation. There is no more school. I can grasp the concept of free sleep but I cannot seem to get that feeling I used to get when I began my high school career or even middle school when school let out. I'm trying to let you guys know, it. Went. Down. It just doesn't feel as free? (there's also the fact Sade's no longer around and srsly she's like my only friend) I hope these aren't indications I'm growing up and whatnot because that's not funny... Seriously, I'm getting so nostalgic already! In any case, ignore my seemingly dramatic antics. I've been dwelling in my house this past week and I'm sure you guys are accustomed to the details regarding such situations: sporadic outfit posts and a heightened interest ~if that's possible~ in editing. Speaking of which, ~side note, it amuses me when bloggers say things like "speaking of which" or "funny that was brought up" because they're the ones blogging and bringing up situations! Anywho~ I'm sure most of you iPhone users are aware of the photo editing app VSCOcam. If not, there, the cat's out of the bag. It's the only editing app that encompasses everything that I love, depth in no color, control of filters, etc. Not only is the interface simple but they also have a place called a "GRID" where photos can be shared similar to instagram; however, there are no likes or anything similar. Just following, feeds, and viewing. I was more than happy to join because as surprising as it is, I do take pictures of things other than my outfits and now I have a place to post them. It's fantastic and just brilliant. Check me out in your spare time here.

xxoo missusmonroe

I'm still reflecting on the year in totality... I think for someone who had no standards going in, I had a better time than expected. I met some pretty life-changing people, changed my perspective on many things, endured many challenges, had a little too many induced laughs, and gained a lot of knowledge and experience. Although it didn't end the exact way that I would have loved it to, I'm still working on it. I don't know what next year has in store for me or where for that matter, but I thank God for this year. Here's the last few weeks wrapped up!

xxoo missusmonroe