..now buckle up.

It’s taken me a long while to get back to this place. With every turn of life there will need to be adjustments, like a car that needs its alignment checked. And for me, it wasn’t that anything was wrong – in fact this season has been one of things running over. And after the drought I was facing it has actually felt a little like whiplash. 

From mid-January to now I have held true to doing things I’d never done in this first quarter beginning with: 

• Styling a short film for a cast of 8 characters – I can’t wait for the world to see this story!

I was super grateful to have been selected and trusted to take the lead on wardrobe. I worked closely with the Director (Janice Lagata) and Executive Producers to really make sure the vision for each person was precise and cohesive within the full cast. The setting itself was an indoor venue space with performance, strobe lighting so I wanted to make sure specific cast members wore saturated colors to be picked up by the lights. I also wanted each character to feel at home in their costuming, as if it were a second skin. The actors reminded me yet again of how important clothing is when relaying non verbal messaging. The whole process was insanely fulfilling and humbling. From storyboarding each character to meeting the actors via zoom, sourcing looks and cross referencing sizes, loading and transporting each and every garment plus accessories to set, and finally running a fitting during dress rehearsal on Day 1 of a three day shoot – every part of this project pushed who I was as a composer of style.

And I’ll say it here, to you and that inner “imposter syndrome” – I AM PROUD OF WHAT I PRODUCED.

• Started and completed my first Daniel fast.

I lost 7 pounds which is A LOT for me but I gained a clarity money can’t buy. I have never felt more in control of my body. Never more focused. I was actually starving out the distractions and increasing my levels of expectation from the Lord.

Highly recommend fasting, 5 stars.

• Started contractual work as a Designer at a large denim retailer.

It’s an excellent company I’ve wanted to work with for a long time. Quite literally a household name, I am so happy to have joined this team and be trusted with the upcoming season. I am trusting God for next steps, but I will say I have made it clear that I can see myself here long term. 

• Taught a course on Rhythms during the Cultivating Your Faith Course in partnership with the Full Collective.

This was so important to me for many reasons. The founder of this community is a dear friend. Pricelis is a trailblazer. Whenever I think of women in my life (not just on the internet) that are killing it within their field, she is DEFINITELY one. And it’s important to have people like this IN your real life and not just aspirationally present. Pricelis continues to make room for herself and others, and she always challenges me with exposure. Pri, I thank you for seeing and trusting me with your vision and your community.

• Launched a business with my business partners and dear friends. 

Ava & Zoey Clothing is here! Named after the daughters of my business partners, Ava & Zoey is comprised of 3 friends, 2 daughters, and 1 singular vision of creating a clothing brand that empowers and uplifts the woman of tomorrow by starting with the little girl of today.  Ava and Zoey is a clothing brand for little girls committed to quality, creativity and comfort. We started working on this over a year ago and we are thrilled to share it with the world!

• Negotiated and shot my first eyewear campaign as an Influencer.
• And then booked another.

Yes, it was important to me to note ‘negotiated’ here. The whole realm of publicly influencing is so new to me, I have so much to learn. But here again, this is why it is extremely important to have a COMMUNITY you can push into when faced with new opportunities. I relied heavily on Rosdaly (@transparencitymama) and Rasheena (@layeredinliberte) to help guide me as coaches in this new, wild place. They both helped me focus past my own insecurities to present myself as the business that I am. 

• Relaxed my own hair for the first time in at least 5ish years.

I am not going back. I LOVE it here.

Glad I found my way in and through my curls. If I ever need or decide to go back, it will no longer be uncharted territory and I love that for me. As a woman, especially a black woman there are too many unknowns about our bodies, hair included. Having taken the time to accept, learn and love my natural curls, my pixie and waves feel like home now. I’ve always loved my look of a short, straight cut and to be back in this bag feels phenomenal. Wait till I master at-home finger waves, BAY-BEEEEEEE!

• Reactivated my account on a dating app..

Less scary this time because I now know what to expect. Apparently it’s a numbers game and at present I’ll dabble. I’ve also made a conscious decision to not become consumed with looking; we all know it’s easy to get lost swiping like on an app, it’s still the internet. I’m going in with an open mind and timely boundaries. We’ll see, pray for your single friends. 

• Started a bible in a year reading plan.

Yes, I am currently behind.  It’s a good old fashioned  mix of wonder and w a n d e r i n g g g g g… The Bible Recap reading plan and daily podcast are INCREDIBLE – cannot speak more highly of the host Tara Leigh Cobb and team for so expertly and concisely composing a reading plan that is both intimate and orderly. I don’t need to sell you here, just trust me and take a listen. Admittedly I’m about 30 days behind and there’s a mixture of reasons ranging from delays to discovery but I do love it!

Cohosted a Bridal Shower for my sister!

I have been to several bridal showers but have never been more fully responsible for one, and never for my sister! My mother and I with the support of truly amazing bridesmaids were able to honor my sister with a Bubbly Island themed Brunch. She knew it was happening but wasn’t privy to any of the details. Friends and family came from near and far to celebrate her on this very special day. We laughed and listened and dined and danced. There was an excitement and anticipation we could all feel on behalf of my sister. And I loved knowing that everyone that was present, has stalk in their relationship. We’ve seen them learn and love one another. Have balance and patience, committed to the progression of fun and (sometimes) filthiness of true union. Theres is a relationship I admire up close and from afar. They have lent themselves to the close of inspection by those they love individually and are a true reflection of God in one another. I love that we all truly knew them. This will be my sisters only bridal shower.

• Learned discipline will take me places talent never could. 

Discipline is the long game and laziness is the pit.

• Was patient with myself with all the newly moving parts.

I may be athletic but that isn’t synonymous with juggling. Admittedly at times I accepted more than I should’ve, whether it was for a check or out of kindness. I’m still working on saying ‘No’. I want to be faithful to the things God has afforded and called me to. Complete alignment does come at a cost: it’s choosing  yourself.

• Received generously from friends.

You know who you are. To each of you, my deepest thanks. For seeing, seasoning, choosing, committing, energizing, pushing, placing, pausing and loving me. Y’all have been like Jesus, serving me. Honored to call you mine.

• Had some difficult conversations.

Trust God, trust yourself, and lean into the uncomfortable. Your growth requires it.

• Set new boundaries and new morning alarms.

It is both a blessing and a challenge to be a giver and supporter. If I count you as one of mine, than your dreams and goals become mine as well. And I will go just as hard for you as I would myself. But somewhere along the way, I was giving myself away with nothing left for me. So we pivot, reprioritize and press forward. And, sunrise is really beautiful.

And while all these new things are nice, I’ll admit with the added hats and new roles comes new challenges with time and discipline.

I find it kind of ironic that we can be in deep prayer asking God to make room and shift space, send blessing and overflow, and then get winded when He opens heaven.

As a freelancer, I accepted every job that came my way. Opportunities were overlapping and thank God I had been resting because I went from seeking to being sought after in a matter of days. The week of Jan 31st through February 4th was the wildest time! 8AM call times/14hr days for the short film I had been preparing for, taking on freelance design work, prayerfully drafting an outline for a course I had been asked to teach, and starting a new job. W I L D. 

But oh the richness of new beginnings and a fresh start!

Like I’ve mentioned already,  I met really amazing people while on set. Learned more about myself and the things I can do even when I can’t fully see it. (Pro tip – get friends who see you and your purpose and put you in places to prosper.) Was welcomed onto an amazing design team full of talent and drive. I was commuting into the office a few days a week again.

WEARING MY THINGS.

Balancing varying deadlines. I was completely in awe of the abundance. And if you know me at all I will jump clean into the deep end like a cannonball. I was eager to be back ‘in the swing of things’ and didn’t fully plan for my time amongst all this newness. Laundry piled up and my Uber Eats bill was ever increasing.

I had grown accustomed to a slower pace, a walk of grace, a season of healing and renewed wholeness.

That kind of dark room development where before you can be admired in the light you must be set apart. And that’s what December through January was for me. A period of strict development and newly formed discipline. Y’all remember my list of birthday commitments? Between that and prayer, it’s what’s brought me here. God has been incredibly faithful and kind to me. He’s been patient when I haven’t had the energy to write or reflect. When getting up early and going to sleep late left me slipping on our solitude.

Shoot it’s been TWO and a half months since my last post! Not because I haven’t had anything to say, but because life has shifted and filled, set to a new cadence and I’m still learning the sequence. It will require a depth of discipline I haven’t “needed” in quite some time. It’ll require planning and preparation. Diligence and determination. It will require Perseverance – a gritty determination to endure.

And I will. I’ll be back with another post in TWO weeks.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Cor 15:58

Be kind to yourself, you’ve never done today or tomorrow before.

live unLeeshed.