Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Dancing in the Darkness


Darkness existed before there was light. Light was birthed from darkness, so if darkness is the birthplace of light… out of darkness we too were created and yet we must return to darkness’s arms because each day new mercies we receive! Each day we are reborn symbolically. Take a look around at night, everything you see in the day is still present. But it is only with light can you begin to appreciate its awesome splendor, its grandeur.

John 1:5 says “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”


For a long time I never understand the darkness, or its dark purpose. In my opinion darkness was unkind. Darkness meant death, despair, and unforgiveness, sadness, and insomnia… but until recently, I have never spent any real time with darkness. But under duress, I have had a chance to spend some quality time with darkness, and I come to love her unyielding ability to cloak the universe in her stillness. I have only just begun to understand her presence, and even after eons of following the daylight, darkness is yet still understood.


Let me make this clearer. Being in the sunlight burns, we all know that. Being exposed is uncomfortable. The heat (pressure) is often what breaks people down. You have to take moments of sunlight with the moments of total darkness in order to recharge. Now I am not writing this note to convince you to see darkness as anything more but darkness… but I am going to share why I think darkness exists. Darkness is the birthplace of a life more abundantly.


Take a moment and venture outside at night and look around, flowers bloom under the moon and not the sun. Grass grows on cool nights filled with the day’s leftover dew drops. The new day starts and ends at midnight so that we have spent a good 5-6 hours in darkness before we even see the dawn of light. Without darkness we could not appreciate the light. Without darkness, light would destroy everything, and it is because of those dark moments we grow! Only in the darkness can you appreciate how beautiful darkness really is. That even on the blackest of nights, the stars still shine and the moon is always full. There is always hope and the will to press on because it is during that darkest hour the strength to live, survive, and the will to keep going takes over.


Yes, even in the darkest of moments we are growing. Night time is a time to recharge, to dream, to think, to pray, to spend time with ourselves, our thoughts, and our feelings. It is in nighttime we confront our fears or succumb to them. It is in night we rebuild ourselves to prepare for the day. And it is in those dark moments that we often wish for a light of some sort, but we are never really in total darkness. No, there is no blackout with God and his grace, because even when there’s no electricity, there is the moon and the stars proving that even in the darkest moments God is still present. Only in darkness can we reach our full potential.


When I was a little girl, I used to want so bad to reach for the stars and bring one home. I was around eight years old and I spent a whole day and night crying one summer evening that it wasn’t fair I couldn’t reach the stars. The next day my brother bought a pack of glow in the dark stars and helped me put up a solar system of stars up on my small ceiling so that I had the whole universe within my grasp. I’ll never forget that moment. But more importantly, he told me in order to make them glow, I had to keep my light on and let them absorb the light so at night when it was dark they would glow.

So as the universe is ever changing so are we! When periods of darkness come into our life we shouldn't get depressed, upset or angry. In order to live life we must go through some good days, some bad days, some rainy days, some sunshine, some long days, and some dark nights. But while it is a time of abundance and sunshine absorb all the light you can that makes you into the men and women you are destined to be, and I guarantee you, during periods of total darkness, you will shine just like that pack of glow stars on my bedroom ceiling. There are those who will try and steal your light or make you feel bad about yourself. There will be situations that force you to re-evaluate those in your life and situations that may force you into the darkness. But always remember, darkness creates light, so shine on ladies and gents.

I am a child of Dusk and Dawn, the children of Light and Darkness when they sky becomes shades of reds, yellows, oranges, purples, blues, grays, and the sun and the moon trade places, I become alive, for I have learned to Dance in the Darkness.

xoxoxox,
Roxxci <3

Get A Leg Up this Season with New Trends for Tights...

Looking For Fall Trends in Tights, Hoisery, and Stockings?




1. Prints and Textured Tights add fun and flair to any outfit
2. Mix and Match solid colored tights as accent color(s) to any fall/winter outfit
3. Experiment with prints and BOLD colors especially winter whites and neutrals
4. Two Tone hosiery is IN this season. Pair with your favorite Mary Janes for a bold look this Fall.
5. Colorblocking is a huge trend this fall, don't be afraid to expand it up your leg!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Fall's Best Accessory: The Little Black Blazer

The 3/4 length-sleeve black blazer is a Fall must have for fashionistas everywhere! From the Boardroom to Happy Hour the blazer is a versatile enough to keep you warm on cool nights while keeping your outfit hot. Check out Express’s new twist on the classic black blazer for only $39.99! I usually don't step out without a blazer and a tote as my classic Fall accessory!

Fabulous Nail Designs

A wardrobe isn't complete without a fancy nail design to complete the look! If you are located in the DC, MD, VA area: also known as the DMV, check out Celestial Nails designs by Celeste. She does a fabulous job on all her nail designs (and is my personal nail tech)!

Fall Into Shoes

So a bunch of people were asking me about my fall shoe craze and what kinds of trends are in for this fall. Here is just a sneak peak at some of the shoes I will be rocking this fall.. Today I actually wore the Black Mary Jane's with the bow and I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THEM! They are so comfy.




Fall 2011 Trends:
Chunky Heels
Glitter
Darker Tans/Nudes
Bows & Ribbons
Patent Leather
Patterns and Prints
Colorblocking

3 years... Some Kinks and Curls Later

Good and Bad Hair:

The Good. My hair care journey has taken me from every “black labeled” isle of Target, Walmart, to the dark recesses of Beauty Supply stores across the DMV, NYC, and GA looking for hair care products. Three years later after my so-so big chop, my hair care journey has taken me to various lengths literally. I started off in October of 2008 with my cute short curls and became a product junkie. I was obsessed with Carol’s Daughter’s products and I still am to a point. As my cute coif began to grow into the awkward stage of various lengths, shapes, curl patterns I like to call “nothingness” I was a weave and wig girl for life! I had long hair, straight hair, silky smooth hair, you name it. I dyed it, fried it, covered it but somehow managed to get through it. And just like my hair, my relationships went through almost the same process. I just couldn’t any longer accept the status-quo (relaxers). Three years of growing out my hair = three years of embracing singleness.

During that time, I learned to love me for me, hair kinks and all. I ran into a few guys who prefer it straight, simply to just mess it up with their hands… but most like it curly! Unruly like myself! I am not a rebel perse, I just do things my way. But back to the hair at hand. I had fun with it, and still do. I LOVE my curls, and even now, I find myself enjoying their thickness. I love to be able to just let my hair float in water, soak up conditioner, and change from straight to curl with water. I love rainy days because I finally can walk in the rain and not worry about my hair. I like being different. I like being a trendsetter. I love embracing my own quirkiness (Lord knows I have a lot of it), but most importantly, I love being me!



The Bad. A lot of women think that by going natural it’s easy or cheaper. Heck no! It’s hella hard! Trust me! I go through conditioner like soap. I’m buying $10 bottles weekly! Yeah this regimen is expensive. I am deep conditioning twice a month, because I have color in my hair and therefore my ends stay dry. I am constantly looking for products to add moisture to my hair sans spraying water on it! Do you know how many bobby pins, curling irons, flat irons, hair pomade, etc . that I go through on the regular just to maintain my curls?! It’s a budget all in itself and it’s not cheap! I can’t just go to the salon whenever and drop $60+ every two weeks! Instead, I have to maintain my own hair care most often months at a time. I have to come up with new hairstyles that will fit my curl pattern and transition from work to play effortlessly! And honestly, I’m sick of it all. I miss straight hair. The smooth edges, the long tresses! I used to rock a MEAN wrap! Alas, those days are dead and gone and as it stands now, at the slightest bit of moisture my hair kinks and knots up like non-other. I miss my straight hair days, my wraps at night, and my flowing tresses! I miss the salon gossip, the fresh smell of a relaxer and glosser spray (don’t judge me). It’s sad to say I am ready for a change.

I feel like I am a chick who has it all together, shoes, fit, nails, face… but when it comes to my hair… well, let’s just say I am in the wrong department for it to be so unruly! Yeah, I’m over it, but maybe I’m not. Maybe I still have room to grow. It’s been three years and so much has happened in these three years that I maybe I have another three left in me! Perhaps this is just another stage of transition and the best is yet to come. It took so much work to get here, why conform? I think I’ll keep my curls a little while longer… I got a feeling someone will like them just as much as me :)

xoxox,
Roxxci Heart