Bomb On a Budget: The Overload

Hey babies! So, this morning, I hopped up out the bed, turned my swag onnnnnnnnn--

My apologies, I was really feeling it. On a serious note; I woke up, laid my baby hairs, beat my face and threw on a chic, yet pocket friendly outfit. I then went to work with my best-friend/tripod and camera. Here's the part where it gets really fun; when I got off work, I rode the train for about an hour to the Meatpacking District, I found a really cute spot to take photos and viola, I realized I forgot my SD card.

So, I have no recent outfits to share but I decided to do a recap on a few looks I had fun with. Each look is associated with moments that are near and dear to me. I hope you enjoy them and let me know which look is your favorite in the comments!

Last summer, I remember I spent so many nights before going to sleep, looking up at the ceiling, imagining life in New York. For years, I'd spent so many nights literally dreaming about the day I'd call New York home. This summer, I am living in New York; it's not be all that I dreamed of, but I am literally living my dreams (did it go over your head? lol). On this particular day, my roommie and I took a walk through my neighborhood in Harlem. This was the first time I took a walk, in the the neighborhood of the city I now call home. As I sat on these steps outside of the brownstones, I thought about the previous summer when my family and I came to visit for a family reunion and being the troll that I am, I threw my purse and laptop on the sidewalk to get the perfect angle on a stoop in Harlem, thinking,"I would love to live in Harlem, a neighborhood filled with affluent, entrepreneurial people of color." As I walk the streets of Harlem today, I feel so much pride and as I pass all of the black owned businesses I'm even more inspired to hustle.

Outfit deets:

Dress-Urban Outfitters, $14

Cardigan- another item I borrowed from my mom and wore it so much I convinced myself and her that it was mine. Oh, the art of finesse!

Shoes- HnM $12

Hat-Urban Outfitters, $4

May 18th, 2016: the day before my life would change forever. On this day I woke up, my boyfriend called me and told me to be dressed by 2/3pm on the dot; he had plans and that was final. I of course asked, "What do you have planned? What should I wear? Where are we going? Will this be an outside or inside activity? Do I need to pack food in my purse?" You know, the usual. To which he responded, "Man, just be dressed, don't have me waiting like you always do." So, I got dressed lol. I believe there is no such thing as over dressed; however, I wanted to be comfortable as well as sexy, so I borrowed this purple, v-cut, maxi-dress from my sissy and paired it with cognac colored sandals my mother gave me. This dress was sexy enough for the fine dining my boyfriend and I experienced at Maggiano's that day; and was just as comfortable for our outing in the park and the surprise party he threw for me later that night. I remember feeling so loved this day, by people that aren't bound to me by blood. So they really don't een have to love me but they do. One thing I can never say about my friends, is that they never gave me my roses and one thing they can never say about me, is that I didn't slay on my birthday.

Finally, is a look I put together for my collaboration with www.CreateHerStock.com, a stock image company geared towards showing positive images of black women. I'd been following the company for some time and aspired to create content just as awesome as the other young ladies that they've collaborated with, so when I received an email from them saying they wanted to collaborate with me, I freaked. When I found out that they found my work/content of value and wanted to pay me, I freaked even more because it confirmed that the content I create is of value and that I can profit from what I love. The month I collaborated with CreateHerStock happened to be my birthday month and right around Mother's Day; so I did a photo package titled, "A Mother's Love." I decided to feature a few of the beautiful mother's that inspire me on a daily basis; my aunt, my cousin and of course, my mommy. Above is a rare photo of me playing in her hair, because any other time she'd probably pop my hand lol. This moment was special to me, so special I don't even know if special is the word for it, lol. My mother inspires me so much creatively, I was just happy that she not only agreed to be my muse but she believed in my vision and furthermore I'm forever grateful for the bonding experience I had with my mother. In these photos I paired a sheer asymmetric, white blouse with a denim maxi skirt and a pair of tie-up, nude flats I purchased for $20 at Love Culture.

And there you have it, besides my birthday; none of these looks are my favorite, but are all connected to moments and memories I will cherish forever. Moral of the story; don't just be out here looking cute and being miserable, make memories, slay in bliss!

Don't forget to let me know which look/memory even, is your favorite!

-XoXo

Mani