Mom’s Remarks about Motherhood

My mom, Mina Komonibo, had the opportunity to speak on motherhood at Braeswood Church. Her message was a blessing.

Offertory

Adickes SculpturWorx Studio

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Cute teeny chain necklaces by #abbiedrue popshophouston

Hair on hide clutch by @Modmadegoods. Yaaaas.

Cute elephant earrings by @yokovintage #popshophouston

Dooney & Bourke #popshophouston #vintage

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Beautiful display by @shopbirdsonawire

We met Laura, the owner of Birds on a Wire, and I she was very sweet . Laura was a teacher, like Bunmi and I, and we were surprised  to see that Birds on a Wire was a non-profit. Head over to her blog to see the story behind her shop (it’s a good one!). Her jewelry display was creative and chic. I loved the necklaces hanging from the branches and the door-knocker necklace.

Checking out the #UrbanIzzy fashion truck.

@bunmi_ishola trying to find Waldo unsuccessfully at @thebptl (Billy Pilgrim Traveling Library)

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Outside there were vintage business trailers all over the place.

Height of Vintage

PhotoMoto

We stopped by PhotoMoto, a vintage truck with a photo booth set up inside with props included. We paid $5 and got a set of two photo strips.

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I stopped in the middle of the street for some jumping pictures. I’m a little rusty.

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Special thanks to Bunmi for the great pictures!

For my birthday, I got a few Target gift cards. Blessed are those who give Target gift cards! I went buck wild on these excellent sales both in-store and online. Check out these deals I scored. Disclaimer: These discounts are not the same everywhere. 

I ordered these Junior colored Pants online in Red and Purple. They are low-rise ankle pants and they fit comfortably. I’m short (5’2 tall) and I typically have trouble finding pants that aren’t too long. I rolled these pants up once and they were the perfect length.

————-SHOES————

I have had my eyes on this chic pair of mint green Oxford shoes. My neighborhood Target only had them in size 5, for only $9.98!!! This was the first time in a long time I was dissatisfied with my size 8 feet.

Eventually I wore down and bought them online for $19.99.

When they came in the mail, they fit true to size. They are a slim style of Oxford that make your feet look long and sleek.

I recently ordered these snazzy loafers online for only $9.98

These super comfy wedges were only $7 in the store!

I am mostly a flats-and-loafers girl. I spied these awesome wedges after my sister told me they were in the clearance section. They dress up any pair of blue jeans. They give me height without wearing down my feet. What’s not to love ?

————Blazers———-

I love the helpful Target staff in my neighborhood. One of the ladies in charge of the fitting room gave me a heads up that these Merona blazers were on sale.

In store, this blazers were on sale for $11. A size Small was a little roomy but it fit.

This blazer was also $11 but when I put it on, it looked much more expensive.

When I went back to the store a few days later, they were all gone! I’m glad I snagged them up!

———-Purses———-

I got this purse in Magenta for $7!

My school bag (an oversized denim tote bag) was in serious need of a replacement. I’m constantly stuffing things papers and notebooks into my purse. It was so heavy that the strap was stretched out. I was constantly living in the fear that my strap would break and the contents of my purse would spill out unto the floor.

This purse was on clearance for $17!

I would have never purchased this purse for $35, so at $17 it was a steal! It is the perfect school bag for teacher. It has a lot of space and it is a sturdy bag. I’ve been getting compliments for this bag. It has a textured finish on the sides which makes it stand out from the average tan bag.

]]> http://naturalechronicles.com/2013/05/10/target-haul-2-looking-expensive-without-breaking-the-bank/feed/ 0 naturalechronicles Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 11.51.22 AM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 11.51.35 AM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 12.26.31 PM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 11.54.19 AM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 12.09.42 PM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 12.44.57 PM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 12.10.25 PM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 12.12.31 PM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 2.25.31 PM Screen shot 2013-05-10 at 2.49.04 PM http://naturalechronicles.com/2013/05/09/cutting-corners-getting-your-nails-done/ http://naturalechronicles.com/2013/05/09/cutting-corners-getting-your-nails-done/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 00:57:01 +0000 Naturalechronicles http://naturalechronicles.com/?p=3213 ]]> For my birthday last week, I wanted to get my nails done. I searched high and low for Groupons and Yelp reviews of places that did a good job and were inexpensive. I found a great Groupon (mani/pedi for $15) that ended up being ten years away— so far that the gas I’d have to pay to get there cost more than the savings I’d be getting. No deal.

So my search continued for a good nail salon. I finally found one in my neighborhood and was able to get my nails (hands and feet) painted for a whopping $14!

I am a cheapo  spendthrift. I like to save money and will cut corners any way I can to save a buck when going to get my nails done.

Here are some times on how to pamper yourself for less:

Skip the Scrub

One way is to bring down the price of your nail salon trip, is to skip the full pedicure. I opt to use my at-home pedicure kit prior to going to going to the nail salon. In the comfort of my own home I can scrub my feet with a pumice stone, clip and file my nails, push back my cuticles, and moisturize my feet. Yes, that’s a lot of elbow grease, but I save in the long-run. When I tell manicurist I want to skip the spa pedicure and scrub, she/he will see that I take care of my feet and  won’t pressure me to get a full pedicure.

Just Paint, please!

I love french tips on my toes. I think it’s a classic look that goes with any outfit and it gives off the impression that “I like to take care of myself.” Getting a full french mani or pedi can be a little pricey, but getting just the french tip paint (some refer to it as a “color change” charge) can be a cheaper alternative. The salon I went to only charged me $7 to get french tips painted on my toes (no feet scrubbing included) and another $7 for my hands ($14 total). Even though I only paid for the paint, the manicurist still cleaned up around my nails so everything would turn out neat.

Additionally, some places will give you a discount if you bring your own nail polish. You might want to call in and check for your specific location.

Press On Nails

I have been known to wear press-on nails (gasp!) and nobody was the wiser. Hey, even Beyonce admitted to doing it sometimes! My favorite press-ons are the Kiss Everlasting brand in pearl French. The pearl finish makes it look like (from a distance) you just your nails done. My nails don’t grow that quickly so the tips can last up to a week if I’m careful. I wear them in size “Real Short” and they look very natural. These cost about $7 and are a great alternative to a full-blown manicure. They’re easy to apply and easy to remove. I’ve run out a snagged these the night before interviews, weddings, trips, or if I didn’t have time (or money) to get a pedicure done. Another upside is that they don’t damage your nails as much as acrylic or solar nails.

Do It Yourself

As you have figured out by now, I am a DIY (do-it-yourself) kind of girl. I can paint my own nails and put a gloss on them by myself, so I have a hard time paying anyone to do them unless it’s a very special occasion. I usually just run over to Walgreens or CVS and grab a bottle of nail polish, sit down and paint away. They’re not always perfect, but at least they’re free!

Diagram of how to paint your nails in a perfect world

I am extremely grateful for the love of friends and family. Thank you all for making it a great 24th birthday .

[photos courtesy of Dee of DeekoDee tales ]

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Thursday (My Birthday!!)

Birthday poster made by Lenithia, signed by my students

Sassy thrifted purse from Adrian

Ben & Jerry’s free bday scoop

Birthday card from my church

I was showered with love and kindness on my birthday. I didn’t get to do every single thing on my birthday list, because I feel under the weather, but I had a great birthday.  I am thankful for my friends and loved ones.

Happy Birthday to me!

]]> http://naturalechronicles.com/2013/05/05/birthday-week-ootds/feed/ 0 naturalechronicles Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.54.59 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.55.11 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.55.23 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.55.37 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.55.47 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.55.59 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.56.10 PM Screen shot 2013-05-05 at 4.56.22 PM http://naturalechronicles.com/2013/04/28/face-time-2/ http://naturalechronicles.com/2013/04/28/face-time-2/#comments Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:43:28 +0000 Naturalechronicles http://naturalechronicles.com/?p=3156 ]]>

Next week on May 2nd, I am turning 24 years old. I usually don’t make a huge fuss over my birthday but this is going to be my last birthday for a while in Houston. I need to spend it with the people I love, doing things I enjoy.

I am the type of person who loves birthdays but I spend most of my time planning for others and making sure people enjoy their birthdays that my own birthday often gets overlooks. This year, I’m not going to wait for someone to surprise me or throw me a party.

This year, I’m going to avoid those incredibly mundane birthday dinners. I’m using my extreme over-planning skills to plan myself the most epic birthday week I can think of. Why? Because I can finally admit to myself that I deserve it.

Here’s a peek at the schedule (below). Click on the picture for the Google Doc for the birthday week lineup. Yes, it’s that serious.

The document will be updated periodically, with times, prices and locations in the document.

If you’d like to see new places in Houston, feel free to come with us. All you need to do is comment with an RSVP on the Google Doc. If you have any events you thing I should add, let me know!

** warning: when you see the Google doc, you’re going to think I’m anal retentive. I am, about certain things. I hope you enjoy my birthday as much as I do!