MOTHER can i LAND

ASOS:AFROMANI BY NKWO

ASOS: OPTICAK IKAT PRINT

Since the start of possible spring ( even though it's freezing outside today) I have been struggling to figure out what style I am interested in embracing this season... and it's really crazy because I never wear form fitting clothing ... so whenever I wear something a little stretchy people automatically ask me if I am losing weight... guess maybe I cover up to much lol... I'm just a little modest and I hate seeing people in ill fitting clothing that's tooo tight... I know my body is not a 10 and if I'm not interested in being subjected to it why would I want someone else to be? ...one of my many no no's... don't get me wrong I'm confident... but I'm not ignorant with it... but I'm kinda feeling my beat... I think this may be a girlie girl spring/summer... if i can just get over the extra attention I won't be self conscious and I can enjoy myself... but when people comment " look at quin... sexy sexy"... I tend to feel like everyone is staring at me and I look ridiculously skanky or something lol... I wore tights to the gym the other day ( i usually wear mens sweat pants) and gosh if every trainer didn't say something about my tights... and while I wear them all the time outside of the gym I suddenly became so self conscious about the fact that they were tights... yeah I got issues...but don't we all... oh and I'm loving the prints of the dresses above...

CoNfession #29 : PUT IT IN A LOVE SONG

I had a really REAL day today... heart was beating fast.. felt like I was having a heart attack... then my cab ride home...

Driver: Hey how you been

Me: Good how about you... seen vett(my old regular driver... and did I mention this guy is a cutie)

Driver: Yeah she around....

Me: Tell her I said hi!

Driver: hey ... so ... there was this girl when I was in sixth grade and I saw her on facebook

Pause: Silence

Driver: Ok I'm about to tell you a real story... this is real so don't be

Me: Ok I got the punch line I'm just waiting on the follow through... girl in sixth grade... facebook

Driver: See I had a crush on her... but she was chunky... and you know it wasn't the thing to like be into a chunky girl etc...

Me: smiling...

Driver: but she was reallllly pretty ... I mean reallly pretty

Me: aweee

Driver: and after school mom use to pick me up at the bottom of the hill... I use to go past her and say hi... and I would hit her on her butt

Me: lol

Driver: but I never told anyone that I had the biggest crush on her.... and I got older and I realized it didn't matter that she was chunky... I use to ask friends about if they remember her and I was kinda looking for her... and I got on facebook and there she was... and she became my friend today....

Me: aweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Driver: buts its to late

Me: what do you mean it's to late... what is she married

Driver: yep

Me: noooooooooooooooooo

Driver: yeah and she just got married like a couple of months ago...

Me: OMG

Driver: she said she knew my face but tell her something so that she could remember me and I told her that story about going down the hill...

Me: sitting up in my seat almost leaning into the front seat... Well what did she say..

Driver: nothing yet... lol

Me: well just take this as a life lesson...

Driver: uh oh she just hit me back... she said well what is it you want to tell me now that you didn't tell me then

Me... uh oh don't get caught up girl he just put a ring on it lol....

God speaks in amazing and crazy ways I needed this conversation at that this time...

WEEK IN REVIEW: BUZY

ZOES KITCHEN: CHICKEN KABOBS & ORZO: HEALTHY CHOICE

THE CANDY SHOP: SOHO SWEETS: CHOC CHIP PECAN COOKIE YUM!

SNL:SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE: DESIGNER

LILLY PULITZER + ANIMAL COOKIES = CHARITY

MAGIC CITY ART CONNECT: SUPPORT THE ARTS

The few past weeks have been crazy intense... more to come!

MAKE:MADE: UP

DIOR: DiorShow Black Out Mascara

I made a Sephora run because new mascara was wayyyy overdue.... I'm not a consistent makeup wearer.... I picked up the Dior Black Out Mascara and on first use it lived up to the hype!

MAKE UP FOR EVER: 5 Camouflage Cream Palette- No 4

I recently watched a celebrities tutorial of makeup contouring on ustream and was inspired to pick up some concealer for the purpose... " You'll feel like an artist with this"... the saleswoman sold me on the -No 4... I haven't had a chance to go really in but it's got a great feel/texture to it and I can't wait to really get into it!

SHRUG

So I have been a horrible blogger lately #SHRUG... but I've been a busy busy girl and I hope to keep the momentum going.... I've been working on this huge award show that my colleagues and I have been putting on for the past three years for the students we take care of at the Fine Arts high school I work for (second job).

This years show theme was SNL ( Sunday Night Live)... and it was amazing... of course I was designer on this project and I have to say this was some of my best work yet.... cocktail /red carpet hour with signature mocktail bar.... banquet in an amazing art gallery... tons of graphic design work ....and co-set designer...

WHEW a girl is tired but sooooo happy... details and pics from the event will be posted on my business site and facebook soon!

So of course I had to rock the red carpet... and the base of my outfit was this ASOS Black Shoulder Pad bodycon dress.... I didn't have time to take pics on my camera but several other people did so I will post as soon as I can hijack them!

THE REVIEW: ZAZA

REVIEW: A new restaurant popped up downtown a few months ago... I pass by it on the way home almost everyday... I finally got a chance to stop by!

I'm starting off with DESSERT: AMAZING! Per a suggestion from a fellow foodie I ordered the fresh fruit... not only is the fruit cut fresh to order but it is accompanied by a ricotta cheese mixture seasoned with cinnamon and to top the dessert off they drizzle the dish with honey and sprinkle it with pine nuts... OMG!

MENU: The menu isn't that extensive and includes fresh made pizza choices as well as a couple of pasta and signature salads. My choice was a Chicken and Penne pasta sauteed in a fresh tomato based sauce.... one word YUM! The pastas consistency was perfect.. not too chewy ... and not too soft!
AMBIANCE: The restaurant is nestled in between a few other businesses and while a little on the small side host some amazingly witty pieces of art. There are several tables littering the sidewalk in front of the restaurant as well. One of the main attractions has to be the vintage brass capuchino machine. (I'll snap a pic next time)

VERDICT: It's a cool spot something different... Italian with a modern twist... not so weighed down and heavy... They are going to start serving gelato soon... you know I'm all over that!

* They recently changed the name from ZAZA to Trattoria Centrale ... I'm going to still call it ZAZA's lol!

wHERE YOu?

Work...Even on Vacation...

I am on the recoup from an almost week long road trip.... My week started with a push to finish custom invites for an Awards Show at work. Coupled with my side hustle orders of Easter premiums for my booth at the spring gophers market... which my family swooped me up directly after and hit the road to visit ill family in Cleveland, Ohio...

CUSTOM INVITES: PRINTED STICKY NOTES

PETER COTTON TAIL: EASTER PREMIUM HUSTLE

12HR ROAD TRIP: PIT STOP: ish BELONGS to the BIRDS

I did get the best DQ blizzard from this stop though!

What an adventure... me, madre, and daddy... hmmm... we only made it to KY... at which point my daddy lost the key locked gas cap... midnight... on to the next one... ONSTAR had to be tired of us...

CLEVELAND, OHIO: SPREADING SOME SOUTHERN CHEER

MAPQUEST = FAILURE... LOST Highlights: Madre got stopped by laughing state trooper for driving to slow in the fast lane... Daddy's constant yelling and temperature boiling road rage... Arrival... I have never been to Cleveland... no disrespect... prob wont be returning...

BEST FOOD ALL ROAD TRIP: CHICAGO,IL
DADDY LOST THE KEY: LOCKED GAS CAP: H2 DEALERSHIP

WINDMILLS ON THE HOME STRETCH

ON TO THE NEXT ONE...

5 hrs over to see my aunt in the CHI... DISAPPOINTMENT: NO SHOPPING... NO SHOWS.... all in all this trip was soooooo funny... my parents are nuts and I love them both... but they are getting old... I got to get my ish in order... #lifetime commitment

P.S.

FOOD: I had to have eaten a bzillion grilled chicken sandwiches.... as most of our time was spent on the road and we chose all the wrong rest stops...

VALET PARKING: My mom is against leaving the keys to her vehicle with anyone... doesn't even let padre hold them ( he lost his set) so while I made reservations for a FOUR DIAMOND stay we had to cancel and stay at the CROWN because she was not handing over her keys...midnight... I was pissed...

MR. WILSON

Large Pave Crystal Marquise Shaped Bangle

Long Crystal Cone Drop with Top Bar Earrings

POW.ZAP.BOOM... and all the other ish people use these days lol... I'm in search of some fab stuff to accent my upcoming red carpet look... only thing that stopped my attention (besides the Chanel globe earrings...gag) are these SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL encrusted designs above. The bling is made by London based Butler & Wilson whose site is packed with tons of elaborate neck pieces, brooches and clutches. I wanted to post more... but it's so worth visiting the site to see...

I have never been a big jewelry person... prob because my mom wasn't either... I never saw her wear anything besides her large ornate hoop earrings given to her by her mother and her wedding band before she had to have it cut off with my baby brother... now she rocks a rex, diamonds, gold and onyx... guess it rings true ...better with age...

The LONEly LONEr

I'm not antisocial... I just don't like to socialize in groups...

when the ultimate goal is work!

I just do not work well with groups...

You know how you constantly have issues with something/ someones and you get to the mature point that you see the pattern and have to reflect on yourself... maybe I am the problem... well here is a snippet of the list of reasons why I am not capable of working well with groups...

1. As an artist I have a perfect ideal in my head...

2. Because I believe so wholeheartedly in my genius I am not open to modifications

3. I rarely feel like others are experts in my field...(I know there are some out there but none that I have had the pleasure to encounter) and therefore their ideas are not respected by me

4. I'm OCD when it comes to my craft

5. I'm too intense and I attribute that to my passion

... people without the vision make my head hurt!

... I CAN FEEL THE HEADACHE COMING ON... therefore this time I have decided to step away from it all and only focus on the things I can directly CONTROL... hey I just said I have issues...