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HAPPY MONDAY: ABU DHABI MINI RECAP

Monday, December 30


Hello All. Hope your holidays have been as happy as can be. I had every intention of blogging more but then I realized that just wasn't going to happen. I have taken so many pics and only managed to load some from my first full day in Abu Dhabi, most of them of my time at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. It's so crazy how fast this trip went by. I'm currently in Dubai and will be headed home in approximately 24 hours. I'll be sure to share the rest of trip deets when I get back. But for now:






The Lovely Kera of DeepDown and Interwoven in our abayas. She showed me around town.

From the Old to New





HAPPY MONDAY!!!
for more.

NOW LISTENING: KIMBERLY NICHOLE

Friday, December 27


You gotta love a chic who describes herself like this:

KimberlyNichole. a Seattle Born. New York Living. Rock sanging....wild child.




Her voice reminds me a little of Shingai Soniwa of the Noisettes. She's a true rock'n'roller and her live shows have been known to impress. I think the first buzz I heard of her was about 3 years ago. Up until now, I had only heard her covers, so it's nice to see she's got original music planned for 2014, starting with this one right here:



Also Listen to her topnotch cover of 7 nation army:


NEXT STOP: DUBAI

Tuesday, December 24


I guess I'm going to be needing these for the next week or so. 
Stay tuned, I'll be checking in and updating you guys on my first trip to the Middle East.
Also, you could , more than likely going to be the most updated space.
I'm beyond Excited.

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


HAPPY MONDAY: LEOPARD

Monday, December 23


Boy oh boy, how crazy good has the weather been these past few. Saturday was nicer cos the sun was out but Sunday was seriously WARM. I'm definitely not complaining.




2 more days till Xmas. I can't wait.
HAPPY MONDAY!!

Boots: Aldo       $60
Dress: Frontrowshop Leopard Print Dress     (Gifted)
Jacket: FCUK had for eons.

NOW LISTENING: BETTY WHO

Friday, December 20

Image via Elle.com

I actually discovered her on Instagram. Someone had posted that they went to her show. So I went to which is cute and adorable and she seems so down to earth and she had a little video singing Christmas Carols and I was like who is this???

Well, she's an Aussie and she's got this cool vibe and is just so likeable. Her debut album landed at the beginning of this year and her music is my favorite kind of pop, 80's flavored. Can't help but be in a good mood music. Check video out below.






On Itunes:

SOME NEW HARDWARE

Thursday, December 19


All Jewelry from FrontRowShop. From $49 and up. Additionally, there's some coupons below.

10% OFF EVERYTHING (Coupon Code: CHRFS10 )
30% off Coupon Code

BOOKMARK THIS ONE: CURLS UNDERSTOOD

Tuesday, December 17



They only just launched but have tons of great content already. Honored to be featured.

HAPPY MONDAY: BRRR...

Monday, December 16


What a weekend. Since I had no real plans of my own, I actually wanted more snow. It's so pretty when you're warm and indoors. I do feel bad for all those who had to suffer through delayed travel plans or just commuting in that weather. By Sunday afternoon the sun was out, of the snow had melted and was already turning into that brown muck. I can't believe Christmas is next week. I just love this time of year.


HAPPY MONDAY GUYS
XMAS COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!

Dress: Zara had for ages: paid $19 or so
Boots: Aldo Capova (currently on SALE)
Vest: Nastygal (See below)




SPARKLE & SHINE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

Sunday, December 15

Do it like Kerry Washington: Sequins and Glitter

There's just not that many times a year that I consider getting decked out in anything sparkly or super shiny. 
But heck it's New Year's, if at all I'm going to do it, there'll be no better time.

Don't forget to always check for coupon codes before any purchase.
ASOS has another pretty good coupon right now.  25% OFF all Full price items.
use CODE GETGIFTS

NOW READING: DASANI'S STORY

Thursday, December 12


Stop everything you're doing and head on over to the New York Times to read Dasani's story. I'm interrupting Now Listening - Music Fridays because I was so moved by this story. Andrea Elliot, an investigative reporter for the New York Times followed this young girl and her family as they navigate what it is to be homeless in one of the wealthiest cities in the world. You will be moved, you will cry, you'll get angry but it's necessary to see and share these stories.  It's a long and involved 5 part piece and Elliot does an amazing job covering every angle...the parents, the teachers, the system, Dasani. If I said I had an answer, if I said there was a clear solution I'd be lying. But that doesn't mean we stop caring or trying or thinking. I had to copy some of the comments that run the gamut of all you'll think and feel while reading it:

This is an extraordinary expose of the Dickensian underbelly right underneath the noses of New York's billionaire predators, who could care less. Sure, someone will likely reach out to help this family, and the remarkable young Dasani, but that will be the extent of it. The deeply institutionalized aspects of the problem won't be addressed; they'll be forgotten and dismissed.

When I started out this work I was as idealistic as so many of the commenters here: How can I help? How are we failing these people? Why isn't the government stepping in? After months on the job I began to feel differently. By the time I left that job I felt hopeless, angry and cynical. I was ashamed of feeling that way but there were reasons for it and many of them were also illustrated in the article. Here I was helping people get benefits and programs in place to better themselves and the lives of their children and I would see them sabotage and squander those opportunities. It builds a sense of hopelessness in you as a bystander and you can just imagine how the children trapped in those homes must feel. I would arrive home and feel a sense of vicarious trauma.


 Dasani is too young to work. She didn't choose her parents. She didn't tell them to have many children. She couldn't keep them from taking drugs. And yet all you can see is that her parents get welfare and so she should suffer.

This. is. urban. America. This is reality for SO many children - likely the kids in the nearby projects have a very similar reality. If Dasani's story is shocking to you, multiply it by 7 million - the number of urban children in poverty in America. This is their lived reality, without a reporter to commenorate their high points.



There are a lot of comments about doing more. That is certainly the instinct. How much more, though, and what form should it take? The family doesn't pay rent or mortgage, which is itself a huge benefit, especially in a place as expensive as NYC. The kids receive public education, to the tune of almost $20K per year each in NYC. They receive $1200 a month in food stamps, plus survivor's benefits. The kids qualify for Medicaid, and likely receive at least 2 free meals each day at school, plus additional meals at the shelter. They receive $80 each time all the kids show up for 2.5 minutes of counseling each. The family blows through several thousand dollars of tax returns without it making any noticeable difference.  I'm not saying this story isn't sad, or that I don't want to hug Dasani to me right now. But I think it's disingenuous to act like this family, and others like them, aren't receiving an enormous amount of services and benefits, despite still having so little.

Our legacy as a society will not be how many multimillion dollar apartments we build in NYC or how many Starbucks we have on each corner. Our legacy will be how we turned a city that was a beacon for immigrants both domestic and international into one of the most socially and economically segregated in the world. We voted for the people that put the policies in place that helped keep an 11 year old girl in unfit housing. We turned a blind eye as NYC became a playground for the rich.



And when you're done, let me know what you think.

All images courtesy NYTimes.

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