Make 'Herstory'

Red Tails inspired outfit. Striped pencil dress Philthy Ragz Boutique, Laced front  Booties Jeffrey Campbell

Had the pleasure of watching one of the best movies I have seen in a long while.  I’d heard mixed reviews, some talks about the actors, some talks about the script, and some talks about the directing.  All in all, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, not only because of my race, but because of the appreciation for the message both in front of and behind the film, respectively,  two different perspectives.

BOSS Bracelet. BCBG

Military jacket, hubby's closet!! ssssshhhhh...lol!

The fond appreciation for the film, stems from both being an entrepreneur and a black woman. In my seven year stint of entrepreneurism, I have found the key ingredient for  growth and success is  having the courage to stand against all odds  firmly, patiently  and consistently and to be  committed to the cause, especially, when surrounded by doubt and disbelief. The absence of the above are the catalysts to lost dreams and empty vision, but when executed properly, they are the keys to making history, your story. Calculated risks, developing and sustaining the ability to forecast your own future, are what create legends, like the Tuskegee Airmen.

Leopard top, Philthy Ragz Boutique

Jeweled tone jeans are the one of the hottest trends for spring summer 2012! 

 The message must prevail over the numerous amounts of times folks give up after a few tries of an idea and the desired acclaim or fortune are not immediate.  Quite often jumping off of one thing and on to the next! All throughout history, the noted legendaries are those who defy the odds, those who smelled the doubt and disbelief brewing, yet still went for the kill,   continuously in pursuit of the goal despite the naysayers and the economic forecast.  In the making of The Red Tails, the filmmaker, the plot, as well as the story of the journey to create the film, screamed this kind of success. 

Hat and handbag, thrifted.

Shoes. ASOS

It should be a message for all of us to replay.  Against all odds, live fearlessly, effectively and purposefully, make 'herstory' by being committed  and driven without being fearful of taking risks!  soooooooooooo......Suit up, buckle up and get ready for take off!!!!! 

Food for thought:  five frogs were sitting on a log when one of them decided to jump off. Can you guess how many were left sitting on the log? Five frogs— because deciding to jump doesn’t mean jumping!

Spike It Up! Body, 'Sole' and Spirit!

Christian Louboutin

Sam Edelman

With the New Year fully up and going, it’s time to really get it going for ourselves.  Let’s just face it, what’s the point of merely, just living.  Too often we wait on circumstances to be PERFECT before we make moves to spice up our lives.  We are waiting for the perfect amount of money, the perfect amount of weight loss, the perfect man, and the perfect woman, the perfect whatever! 

Jeffrey Campbell, (my favorite shoe designer!!)

Zigi Shoes

The time is now spice (spike) it up!  Truth is, that with whatever you want to do, where there is a will there is a way, no matter how much money, time or talent!

Jeffrey Campbell

Jeffrey Campbell

Be spontaneous, seize opportunities as they present themselves to you, how do you know you can, if you don’t.  Don’t make excuses, you know the ones….”I’m to this, I’m to that, and I don’t have anything to wear”…... the list goes on and on.  This is the kind of life that turns into the shoulda coulda woulda’s. It’s that time now and it begins in the mind first, and you must believe that YOU DESERVE IT!!

Betsey Johnson

As a woman, mother, wife, entrepreneur, designer, blogger and stylists, I have been guilty of it all! I find it most difficult to relax! I can be somewhere and my mind soul, body and spirit is really not there.  My mind is always on the next thing, and I found it terribly difficult to be in the moment.  I have even left an event, thinking, what the hell just occurred!? Lol! I was physically present but mentally absent.

Sam Edelman

Kyle Platform Pump

Jeffrey Campbell

"Spike" up your life up with the seasons most dangerous weapons, the spiked shoe, and try at least 5 of the following ways to spike or spice up your life!!

1. Don't make excuses.

2. Be spontaneous.

3. Do the unusual.

4. Spice up your attitude. Be open minded.

5. Be fully present and in the moment.  Unless you have superpowers, you can only be in one place at a time, so enjoy!

6. Know that you deserve to feel good. 

7. Do something different from what every one expects.

8. Change an element in your environment. (designate a room and do small things like change a color of the wall and then go and  buy accents, like pillows, vases or curtains to coordinate the look)

9.  Do something for YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

10.  GO QUICKLY and get a pair of these spiked heels, and fashionably kick some ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!

Tata for Now,

The Retail Therapyst

p.s. sooooooo....... I'm  Spicing up my life by taking a zumba and a salsa class!!! anyone know of any good ones?.......

The Retail Therapyst: How Big Was your Last Deposit?

The Retail Therapyst: How Big Was your Last Deposit?: Today I had a very long conversation with one of my best girlies in the whole world. During our conversation, I took my friend to my ne...

How Big Was your Last Deposit?

Today I had a very long conversation with one of my best girlies in the whole world.

During our conversation, I took my friend to my new work studio and she happily turned around and told me that I had inspired her.  This took me by surprise because I felt the same way but I don’t think she ever knew it! After she left, I began to reminisce about how I met her.  Our relationship began five years ago when she was a customer at my boutique, and the very first time we met we talked for hours and haven’t stopped talking since then... LOLOL!!

Five years ago our first interaction  happened to come at a time when I had just opened my boutique and it was tough!!! I will never forget the three words that she uttered to me, “don’t give up”! I was speechless, asking myself, How did she know? All I could do is shed tears, but some how I felt the tug to keep trying.

As our sister hood strengthened, a  few years later, she challenged me to go beyond the normal way I did things and try something new.  She invited me to participate in a fashion show amongst some top notch designers.  Nervous, but fearless, I did it! The new way of doing things changed my brand forever. Her subtle nudge forced me to step outside of my comfort zone.

Have you ever met that one someone who said that one thing that changed you whole world?  You never know how much taking the time to encourage someone, can change their whole world.  We have to treat relationships like we do our banking; decrease the amount of withdrawals, and increase the deposits!! 

Shirt dress. Philthy Ragz
Shoes JC Penny's
Tube dress. DIY
Sunglasses. Steve Madden
Earrings, Ear Rehab
Bangles, Philthy Ragz

This was the first dress I designed after a nudge of "Gay, you can do it! just try it...."...and this was before the Marc Jacobs dress was premiered!!!

INCREASE YOUR WORTH, 

MAKE THOSE DEPOSITS!!!

Xoxoxoxox

The Retail Therapyst!

The Retail Therapyst: Walking on Sunshine

The Retail Therapyst: Walking on Sunshine: color block tee, Philthy Ragz. electric blue blazer,Philthy Ragz, white maxi with split, Philthy Ragz. You are my sunshine My only ...

Walking on Sunshine

color block tee, Philthy Ragz. electric blue blazer,Philthy Ragz, white maxi with split, Philthy Ragz.

You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When the skies are grey
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
So please don't take
My sunshine

Remember that song????……When I was a little girl, I used to love to hum the lyrics.  Little did I know about what sunshine really was? As a young girl, when I thought of sunshine I was over joyous because it meant being able to play hopscotch or ride my bike (only to the corner, granny didn’t play that! Lol) outdoors, wearing my pedal pushers and tying my shirt up in the front thinking I was cute!

Beaded sandals, ALDOS.

As a woman of a certain age, sunshine has such a different interpretation. Sunshine is equated with joy; it has this strange way of dictating our moods, and determining what our day’s accomplishments will be!  In all actuality, sunshine has power!!!  In so many words if we don’t have sunshine, many of us don’t have joy…….If you don’t have joy, you don’t have power,….if you u don't have power, you lack the ability to conquer! There is strength in joy.

Beautiful Los Angeles, sunset.!!!! only in Los Angeles, (in January!!!lol)

When you are joyous, your aura permeates the effervescence of power and productivity and attracts everything positive. In essence, if something or someone takes away your sunshine or your joy, they have taken away your power……   so clear yourself of anything toxic.  Over time it takes away your sunshine….and without joy, you give control away….The sun has set on those days!

 Remember only what you feed is only what’s going to grow…….

.

Basking in the Sunshine,

The Retail Therapyst

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Do you think a man could walk a mile in your shoes.....................lol...literally.!?!?!

Hit the Reset Button.

I know it’s been a while but Happy New Year’s Everyone!!!!

Every new year we spend our time getting’ fancy (nails done, hair done, everything did) lol, but this year was a bit different for me, I didn't have the desire to do any of the above, so we spent our new years at a backyard boogie.  Amongst some of my favorite people and a couple of my best girlfriends,  we had an old school good time, simple, just people having fun, no fancy dresses, no suits and no false lashes for me!! lol!! At midnight of bunch of us just hugging and loving each other’s for good time’s sake! 

But ....whats a celebration if we forget the of the meaning of why we celebrate New Year"s Day...... you know.... new beginning's, new wishes, new desires, etc., etc.,....... if the truth be told, these things really aren't new, we have had them tucked away everyday, they are the inner most desires of our heart that represent a better you.....

  What are New year’s resolutions????? In my my reality its that time of the year when we resolve to refocus, regroup and rearrange our lives, we take oaths to begin anew and really do things right this time. I’ve made a promise at least 25 times and I can’t remember one year when I kept it going throughout the entire year lol …So  I stopped making resolutions a loooooooong time ago…..every day should be a "new year’s day". 

Every day we should refocus, regroup and rearrange our lives for the better.  I mean there has never been a day when I’ve been perfect, so every day I must resolve to learn from each mistake and get better daily, not waiting until the end of the year to exercise, eat healthy, be more organized, and the list goes on…..

We need to get to the place where we wake up every day and renew and revive ourselves, learning from the previous day, and making a vow not to make the same mistakes,   I have learned that sometimes I just need to hit the reset button, shift some things around or even hit control, alt +delete and start all over again…… Whatever we need to to do, to make our lives more gratifying and satisfying, we don’t have to wait until a new year!!!!   Go on, hit that reset button, right here right now.

Until next time,

The Retail Therapyst

xoxoxoxo

p.s. I will be blogging more and you will see the style of the blog changing over time, whether it’s a daily inspiration, outfit post, new sale, hot items, make up tips, trying new things and places, do it your self projects, beautiful scenery……..whatever I’m feeling to inspire you  (and me!) daily..... xoxoxoxoxoxox, yes, i hit the reset button!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!